Nathan Brown in full training in December for first time in five years, eyeing Round 1 Sam Landsberger Herald Sun Luckless Magpie fired up for 2015 AN injury-ravaged 2014 has Collingwood’s Nathan Brown fired up and in full training in December for the first time in five years. IT is a sight Collingwood fans haven’t seen in five years — a fit Nathan Brown smoking up the pre-season track in December. And the luckless defender says his nightmare season has lit the fuse to step up preparations for 2015, with a target set on a Round 1 return. Brown’s loose shoulders popped out in two of his three AFL appearances in 2014 as the Magpies’ injury crisis derailed their year, while an ACL tear wiped the 25-year-old’s 2011 season. But after undergoing recent shoulder and hip surgery and sticking to his rehabilitation schedule, Brown was fit two weeks before pre-season began. “At the start of last year was that sort of transition where guys like myself and Ben Reid and Tyson Goldsack became the senior guys at the club,” Brown said. “It was really our turn to take over and take the mantle of leadership roles and so to invest so much in pre-season and not be able to play throughout the year was tough. “That’s given me a little fire in my belly.” And Brown said despite the Magpies’ ladder dips the past four seasons — culminating in missing finals for the first time since 2005 this year — expectations would not waver. “Obviously we want to win premierships,” he said. “Or I wouldn’t be out on the track busting my arse in this heat so we’ll definitely be aiming high, we won’t be holding back this year.” Brown said he had total confidence in his right shoulder, but “obviously I’ll be heavily taping my shoulder for the rest of my career”. “They’ve basically screwed it in so it’s not coming out anymore, which is good,” he said. “Most guys are complaining about training long days but I’m sort of right into it (with a) bit of energy and really happy to be out there and the body’s feeling great.” On the Magpies’ influx of new players, Brown said: “There’s a lot of ‘mates’ being called around, you’ve got to learn a lot of names now”. “But so far all the new draftees and the rookies have really impressed. “They’ve come in and they’re built, they’ve already got a bit of muscle on them and they’ve slotted straight into training really well.” Brown said Tony Armstrong had returned in super condition and was impressing, while boom teenagers Nathan Freeman and Darcy Moore have also stood out. Moore is set to learn from Brown and swingman Ben Reid with coach Nathan Buckley set to start the father-son selection in defence. The exhilarating Freeman — a top-10 pick last year who has recovered from nasty hamstring injuries — has dominated the early running sessions. Evan #letsbackbucks #gopies Nathan Brown at Collingwood training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Nathan Brown wants to put an injury-ravaged 2014 behind him. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Nathan Brown wants to take on more of a leadership role. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Nathan Brown cradles his dislocated shoulder.
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 07:13:29 +0000
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