ADELAIDE forward Brett Burton says he’d feel comfortable making an AFL comeback against Fremantle this week, despite having played just one game in the SANFL.
Burton, 31, made an impressive return from a full knee reconstruction on Sunday, notching up 19 possessions and two goals in Woodville-West Torrens’ win over Port Adelaide.
The high-flying veteran enjoyed 90 per cent game time in his first hit-out in nearly 12 months and was among the Eagles’ best.
On Monday, Burton said he’d pulled up well and would leave his fate in the hands of the Crows’ selectors.
“I put myself up for selection last week - to play anywhere - because by putting my hand up I was saying I was fit to play footy at any level,” Burton said.
“I’ve put myself up for selection at AFL level again this week, which was no different to last week. I’m happy to play anywhere.”
Burton was scheduled to make his much-anticipated comeback two weeks ago, but pulled out after experiencing hamstring tightness.
Burton said he was confident his body could still handle the rigours of playing regular AFL.
“The knee hasn’t troubled me for a long time,” Burton said. “When you’ve been out for 11-and-a-half months it takes you a little bit of time to get used to footy again in terms of the bumps and the bruises and what you get as far as recovery after a game.
“You can train as hard as you like and try and simulate matches as much as possible, but it’s different when you actually get out there against an opposition.”
Burton, like fellow veterans Simon Goodwin, Andrew McLeod and Tyson Edwards, is out of contract at season’s end, as all Adelaide players over 30 are only offered one-year deals.
Goodwin, who is recovering from a knee strain, McLeod and Edwards have all displayed solid form in the opening 14 rounds.
But Burton said he didn’t feel as though he was behind the trio when it came to securing a new one-year deal.
“In terms of the four guys over 30, it’s certainly not a race between any of us because who is to say that all four won’t be playing again next year,” Burton said.
“I haven’t got a benchmark number of games [I’d like to play] in my head or a number of best player [awards]. It’s about physically doing what I’ve done before and having confidence in my own body.
“In terms of the list management committee, it’s being able to show I’m still physically able to play at a reasonable level.”
Burton admitted he’d found the uncertainty surrounding his future stressful at times during his recovery, but said he was confident he could prove his worth in the remaining eight games.
“If I’d limped into this week and struggled to perform there might have been a little bit of a question mark about that [my future], but I feel like I’ve hit the ground running and put a good performance on the board.”
