Vice-captain James Clement will make his long-awaited return to football when he lines up for Williamstown in the VFL this Sunday afternoon at Frankston.
The dual Copeland Trophy winner has not played since tearing his calf during the memorable victory over the Crows at AAMI Stadium in round six, and is predictably delighted to be back.
“I’m just really looking forward to getting out on the park again and working towards playing senior football,” Clement told collingwoodfc.com.au.
“It’s been a very frustrating ten weeks with an injury that seemed as though it would heal quickly when I first did it.
A feature of Clement’s brilliant 222-game career has been his durability, making it even more difficult for him to cope with his longest ever injury layoff.
“I struggle being out for one week.
“I’ve never really had any serious soft tissue injuries in the past and the other injuries have always healed pretty quickly, so I thought it would be two or three weeks, four max.
“So it was obviously a little more serious than maybe first thought and took its time, and I suppose age played a factor, just to re-emphasise the fact I’m closer to the end of my career than I am to the start.”
But having now been declared fit to play, the 30-year-old is extremely grateful to the young players who have stood up in the absence of senior stars like himself, and given the Magpies a chance at having a genuine crack in September.
“I’ve been very proud of the way the boys have conducted themselves and the way that they’ve played, and the young boys have been a real credit to the football club.
“Obviously, if I get my opportunity to play senior football again, and hopefully push towards a finals campaign, then I’ve got a lot to thank them for.”
In a further boost for the Magpies, Rhyce Shaw is also set to make a return from a hamstring injury via Williamstown this Sunday, as is promising forward Sean Rusling, who will play his first game of the season having undergone a shoulder reconstruction late in the pre-season.
The dual Copeland Trophy winner has not played since tearing his calf during the memorable victory over the Crows at AAMI Stadium in round six, and is predictably delighted to be back.
“I’m just really looking forward to getting out on the park again and working towards playing senior football,” Clement told collingwoodfc.com.au.
“It’s been a very frustrating ten weeks with an injury that seemed as though it would heal quickly when I first did it.
A feature of Clement’s brilliant 222-game career has been his durability, making it even more difficult for him to cope with his longest ever injury layoff.
“I struggle being out for one week.
“I’ve never really had any serious soft tissue injuries in the past and the other injuries have always healed pretty quickly, so I thought it would be two or three weeks, four max.
“So it was obviously a little more serious than maybe first thought and took its time, and I suppose age played a factor, just to re-emphasise the fact I’m closer to the end of my career than I am to the start.”
But having now been declared fit to play, the 30-year-old is extremely grateful to the young players who have stood up in the absence of senior stars like himself, and given the Magpies a chance at having a genuine crack in September.
“I’ve been very proud of the way the boys have conducted themselves and the way that they’ve played, and the young boys have been a real credit to the football club.
“Obviously, if I get my opportunity to play senior football again, and hopefully push towards a finals campaign, then I’ve got a lot to thank them for.”
In a further boost for the Magpies, Rhyce Shaw is also set to make a return from a hamstring injury via Williamstown this Sunday, as is promising forward Sean Rusling, who will play his first game of the season having undergone a shoulder reconstruction late in the pre-season.
