 Koutoufides' PCL injury was healed before the start of 2001, and he had another stellar season, finally winning his first club best and fairest.However, in the semi-final against Richmond, he again sustained a knee injury, this time a very serious torn anterior cruciate ligament.He would not play again until Round 15, 2002, playing only three games in that year and wearing a specially designed game-day knee brace.