.gif){kind=icon}
CTV > Watch the Chris Egan interviewAfter his 2007 season was ruined by a knee injury, Chris Egan has emerged as a much improved player during the pre-season and is ready to come of age in 2008.
The 21-year-old, who was the No. 10 overall pick from the 2004 draft, has managed 25 games in three seasons with the Magpies, but added only one to his career tally last year (round six against Adelaide) before injuring a medial ligament in a VFL game.
But with a strong pre-season campaign behind him including excellent performances in regional challenge matches against Port Adelaide and last week in his home town of Shepparton in the win over Hawthorn, Egan is ready to stake a claim for a regular senior berth.
“I’ve gone back to good form, I haven’t played for a long time. It was good to get out there against West Coast a couple of weeks ago, and I’ve held my spot for the last three weeks, and hopefully I can take it into round one,” Egan told CTV at the Lexus Centre on Thursday.
Egan admits it was difficult, both mentally and physically, to recover from such a lengthy layoff last year, but says his team mates have been instrumental in helping him through and he wants to repay them with some good on-field form.
“It was very tough and a lot of things happen on and off the field, it catches you mentally and it gets pretty tough.
“But I dug deep and had a good crack, and the boys have been behind me 100 per cent. So it’s good to have them there and it gets you over the line, and here I am, 2008, ready to have a good year for them.”
Having played most of his football at Collingwood as a half forward flanker, Egan has performed well on the wing during the pre-season, using his pace and skill to generate drive from the midfield, but wants to prove his versatility in a number of positions.
“I like to get up forward, but Mick also likes to put me down back and create run, carry it for the boys and open the game up with my foot skills and my awareness of the game.”
Watch the full CTV interview with Chris Egan by clicking on the link at the top of this article.
