AFTER a horror 2019 ruined by injury, Essendon midfielder Devon Smith is targeting a round one return.
Smith managed just seven games before suffering a season-ending knee injury in round eight against Sydney.
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It was a huge turnaround in fortune for the hard-tackling midfielder, who claimed the Bombers' club champion award in 2018, but a successful recovery from surgery has him primed to recapture his best form.
>> Check out latest pics below from the Bombers' Coffs Harbour training camp
"Yeah, I'll be good to go from day one," Smith said of his 2020 prospects.
"I've completed all the sessions and I've got my eyes on round one.
"This is probably the most of a pre-season I've completed since 2016, so I'm actually feeling pretty good."
Smith was in the thick of the action at Essendon's training session in Coffs Harbour on Monday, and he could see the benefit of having so many star players, including key forward Joe Daniher, sidelined throughout last year.
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"It's never fun, and I'm not someone who likes watching football especially at the time when we weren't going too well," Smith said.
"There are obviously injuries in our game, it's just the reality, there's 40-odd on a list and you need troops to step up.
"We got games into guys last year who can hopefully come on in leaps and bounds (and we can also) get those important players back out and playing good football."
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