This Saturday night when the Sydney Swans take on Collingwood at ANZ Stadium, Peter Everitt will make his return and he can think of no better occasion.
“Everyone loves playing Collingwood, big crowd, big stage and we have the chance to consolidate our top four spot,” Everitt told the media on Friday.
Everitt’s 2008 campaign has been a mixed bag; he didn’t play a game until round eight because of off-season knee surgery. He quickly found form and combined well with Darren Jolly; however, in his fifth game back against West Coast on the bigger Subiaco ground, a hamstring injury sidelined him again.
The ruckman has now had three weeks in rehabilitation and is eager to make his return against Collingwood this weekend.
“I am very excited to be back this weekend, I have had three weeks off but fortunately for me Goodesy going out meant they could fit me straight in,” Everitt said.
“It is good to come back and feel well; training last night and recovery today, the body’s really good.
“We had last week off but I stayed around and continued with rehab and it has paid dividends.
“To be honest, the body feels really good. I want to get out on the ground and contribute a bit more than the 50-60 minutes I have in the previous seven to eight weeks or so.
“I’m still aiming to rival with (Darren) Jolls and have a real crack at getting into 80-90 minutes of footy, which hopefully I can get back into.”
Prior to the round eleven hamstring injury, Everitt didn’t have much confidence in his body but following the three weeks of rehab, feels better than ever.
“I thought I was okay coming off an operation but I always felt that my hamstring was about to go,” he said.
“”I was never 100 percent even before the injury; I felt something there and we had to manage that and then against West Coast it obviously went.
“In hindsight it is probably good because now I’m feeling the best I’ve felt all year and touch wood, I won’t get another injury and can play out the next nine weeks.”
The question most thirty-something footballers get asked this time of the year is about next year - will he play on?
“I am hoping to play on next year but I haven’t made any decisions on next year, I will at the end of this year,” Everitt announced.
“I think if I can really consolidate the next nine weeks I will pretty much prove to myself that I can go on.”
Great tickets still available for the Sydney Swans vs. Collingwood game at ANZ Stadium this Saturday night, go to Ticketek to purchase your ticket now.
