"I just love rocking up to training now," the 24-year-old said from the AIS. “In the past two years I've been restricted to just doing handball exercises on the side; now I'm joining in with the boys and I'm loving it.”
The Demons' hitout at Ainslie Oval caps a successful camp in Canberra this week. Moloney describes being based at the AIS as “a bit like school camp... the facilities are fantastic though.
"The recovery centre is state-of-the-art, world class. We trained at Ainslie yesterday and that's also a great place to train."
The smile is back on Moloney's face and you can understand why. After what he describes as “a big” pre-season in 2006, “when I maybe over-trained”, he struggled with injury.
A bout of osteitis pubis – a groin related condition – subsequently plagued him, restricting the midfielder to just 17 games over the ensuing two seasons. Moloney played on despite the troublesome injury. Finally, after round 19 last year, a groin operation was deemed necessary.
However, a rehabilitation program masterminded by Dees' conditioning manager Brentan Parsons has Moloney desperate to reignite his faltering career.
“I've learnt a lot, obviously you learn from your mistakes and I haven't got it right over the last two years. That's probably a management thing, getting to know your body.
“I've worked a lot with Brentan. I think we've got it right and I'm feeling really good and confident about having a full season."
As for 2008, while conceding the Dees are a youthful lot, the 24-year-old senses the older players in the group may be a key to any success this year.
“We do have a young list but we have some great leaders who are a bit older. We've learnt from our mistakes,” he adds when quizzed about some very close losses last season. “Hopefully if we get in that same situation, we can turn it around.”
Moloney is also hoping he has learnt from his mistakes as he heads into a new season. As he gazes out the window at AIS athletes training nearby, he muses, “I'm just looking forward to the future.”
