CHRIS Yarran doubted if he would play AFL again during a difficult 2016, but believes he can reignite his career at Richmond next season.
The smooth-moving 25-year-old missed the Tigers' entire campaign this year after taking indefinite leave to deal with personal and family issues.
The time away from the game has left him battling to regain full fitness ahead of pre-season kicking-off on Monday, November 7.
But the former Carlton star has been working with personal trainer Tom Couch and is confident he can get back to play for the Tigers.
"There were times during the year when I doubted myself, doubted whether I would ever play again but I'm in a steady place now and I'm ready to start playing some good footy," Yarran told News Corp.
"My personal issues are taken care of and this is the best I've felt and looked for quite some time.
"I really missed playing and I'm doing everything in my power to make sure I play again.
"All I want to do is get back and play some decent footy for the Richmond Football Club, which I'm quite capable of doing."
Yarran is yet to play a match for Richmond after being traded from Carlton for pick No.19 at the end of last year.
He struggled with calf issues before undergoing foot surgery on the eve of the season, and then stepped away from the game completely.
Despite doubts Yarran would make it back, Richmond has been satisfied he has stuck to the agreed off-season training plan, which focused on working with ex-Melbourne player Couch over the past three months.
"What I have to do is get out on the training track and have a healthy pre-season," Yarran said.
"I've had a few calf injuries but there's been no sign of that recently and my general fitness isn't too bad.
"There's no reason why I can't join the main training group pretty quickly. What I have done with Tommy (Couch) has put me in really good stead."
Yarran, who played 119 games and booted 90 goals for the Blues, is contracted to Richmond until the end of 2018.
