THIS is one club in which you don’t ever want to gain membership.

Players who tear an anterior cruciate ligaments, and consequently require a full knee reconstruction, are inevitably gutted.

Last weekend fans of all clubs were forced to watch on in despair as GWS young gun Jonny Patton succumbed to his second knee blow.

Understandably, the 21-year-old was shattered at learning he would miss another 12 months of football.

But through footballing hardships can come uplifting tales of mateship — and triumph.

Thoughts go out to my good mate Jonny Patton. Absolutely shattered about what happened today. I'm sure he will bounce back bigger & better. — Alex Woodward (@AlexWoodward39) August 17, 2014

In an open letter, thanking fans for their support, Patton revealed how best friend and teammate Stephen Coniglio had aborted a flight back to Sydney following last week’s match to instead hang with his buddy.

A brotherhood exists, too, among those players who have had to do the hard yards to come back from what is arguably the toughest of football injuries.

Phone calls and messages of support and encouragement are often exchanged between those who have experienced footy’s lowest of lows, each man only too aware of the hard work required to get back to the top level.

So pumped to see Anthony Morabito back in for @Fremantle_FC - will be on the highest of highs this week! #mentaltoughness #inspiring — Daniel Menzel (@DanielMenzel10) July 3, 2014

The worst thing about ‘The Knee Reco’ club? One never knows when a new player may join.

But to come back and prosper at AFL level after being struck down? That may arguably be a player’s greatest achievement.

Today, to show big Jonny and others on their way back from serious knee injuries — but also as a tribute to those who have had to work their way back from the depths of footy despair — SuperFooty has assembled a current-day side from those going strong post ACL injury.

And it includes some more-than handy names ... dual premiership players, Rising Star winners, grand final matchwinners and icons of the game.

Patton’s dual premiership teammate Josh Hunt just missed out, while the likes of Anthony Morabito, Suns ruckman Zac Smith, Eagle Jamie Bennell, Hawk Alex Woodward and Freo pair Jonathon Griffin and newly-retired big man Kepler Bradley have all made successful comebacks.

Check out our line-up below: