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John Townsend, The West Australian June 7, 2013, 7:25 am

Manning now the silent assassin
West Perth's Kody Manning and (inset) the tattoo on his calf which reads "To overcome all difficulties". Pic: Ben Crabtree/WA News




"To overcome all difficulties" reads the tattoo running down Kody Manning's right calf.

Rarely has a stretch of ink, albeit in Kanji script, provided such prophetic advice for its bearer.

As Manning prepares to return to the playing field for West Perth after a remarkable injury scare, he can look back to the controversial WA Day derby last year as the catalyst for his emergence as a person and player of substance.

Manning was suspended after a heated altercation with East Perth's Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls in which insults were exchanged.

The Royals player refused to accept Manning's apology during their mandatory mediation session, effectively triggering the minimum three-week ban under the WAFL's vilification rules.

It has not been reported until now that Manning refused to lodge an official complaint over the comments made to him.

"I have always thought that what happens on the field should stay there," Manning said.

He says he was devastated by the incident and the intense spotlight it generated, but used it to create a different on-field persona on his return to the game.

He travelled to Samoa for a week's surfing immediately after receiving the ban and believes his time in the waters of the Pacific helped clarify his football goals and behaviour.

"I don't say a word to anyone on the field now," Manning said.

"I just play. No matter what happens or what anyone says to me, I just take it in and go and get the ball.

"I won't do anything like that again.

"If I get angry now I play better because I simply focus on doing my job and beating the other bloke."

That approach has made Manning a favourite with coach Bill Monaghan and West Perth fans, who value the 21-year-old's ferocious presence as a defensive forward.

Even with a knee injury forcing his absence for the past month, Manning remains second at the club for pressure acts behind recently-promoted West Coast midfielder Mark Hutchings.

Manning said he had never played differently and coaches throughout his 175-match junior career for Ocean Ridge had invariably used him as an example for teammates to follow.

"I just love hitting and getting the hard ball," he said. "I like the way Beau Waters and Campbell Brown play. I get more enjoyment from getting a hard ball and giving it to someone who kicks a goal than kicking the goal myself."

Manning's second major challenge arose from the knee injury he suffered at training last month.

Advised for nearly a week that it was an anterior cruciate ligament rupture that would require a reconstruction, his despair gave way to surprise and delight when further scans revealed that the damage was to his cartilage.

Manning had post-season surgery to stitch torn cartilage last year but the repair gave way as he landed during a drill.

"It didn't feel right so I walked off the track and within a few minutes the knee blew up and I couldn't walk," he said.

"I couldn't sleep for two days because of the pain and I was told that it was an ACL and I would have to have a reconstruction.

"I tried to stay positive and to think I would use the time to get bigger and stronger for next year.

"Then when the knee specialist did another test and told me it was the meniscus rather than the ACL, I couldn't hold back my smile."
Manning believes he could play against Claremont tomorrow, though the club is likely to wait at least another week before he is given the chance to overcome his most recent difficulty.

Great Article Growler thanks. As long as he doesnt come back to early.
Shame about Sala being out again after 2nd game back. Not sure if its the Hammy?

There were two articles in this mornings West, Jason was featured on pregame page 10 and Cody was on pregame page 11. Those two articles were fantastic reading while I had my cup of tea and toasted sangies.

Winger wrote: There were two articles in this mornings West, Jason was featured on pregame page 10 and Cody was on pregame page 11. Those two articles were fantastic reading while I had my cup of tea and toasted sangies.

sheezus, we r in for a touch up tmoro, we have 7 quality outs, it will be one of our best wins but near on impossible. this could be a carbon copy of last years effort v CL and Joondalup. I will watch it from Coral Bay. I would be inclined to rest any other players with niggles too!

We're not exactly at full strength either Leedy, missing 7 or 8 players that would be automatic inclusions so i would be very surprised to see a thrashing, just hoping we can get a win.