Defender Shane Biggs has told Sportsday Radio that the side is almost fully fit as they prepare to take on Greater Western Sydney on Thursday night in the Club’s opening match of the NAB Challenge series.
With only Clay Smith and Roarke Smith working through long term injury rehabilitation, Biggs said that the selection committee will be in for a tough time picking the 22 players who will step out to face the Giants in Canberra.
“There’s only two on the injury list at the moment, the two boys with the knees, so everyone is fighting fit and all trying to get a spot for the NAB series,” Biggs said.
“Everyone’s fighting for a few spots and I don’t think I would like to be at the selection table.”
Biggs crossed from Sydney during the 2014 NAB AFL trade period but struggled to establish himself early as a run of injuries made it difficult to find any consistency. But after finding form in the VFL he was selected in the round 17 side to face Collingwood and did not miss a game for the rest of the season.
This preseason has seen the 24-year-old enjoy an injury free run for the first time in his career and he thinks this should put him in a good position to improve on last year’s tally of 10 senior games.
“I’ve been pretty happy with it, especially body wise, I’ve gotten through the whole thing which I haven’t been able to do before and I’ve been happy with that.
“It started off a bit indifferently last year, a few injuries and I just struggled to get the consistency going, and when I did get in there it was good to feel a part of it.
“It’s probably the first time at AFL level that I was able to feel a part of it, and just how good the boys were going and how we gave it a real shake.”
One player who may have a major impact on how the side goes in 2016 is Tom Liberatore, who returned to the field for the first time during the Club’s intra club match in early February, and Biggs said that the 2014 Sutton medallist is raring to go.
“He didn’t miss a beat, Tommy, he’s a freak inside and his run as well, he’s got a huge engine.
“He was probably the best stoppage player in the league two years ago.”
As for his own game, 2016 will be all about finding consistency.
“I’d love to play more games than I did last year, that’s the plan, that’s my goal, so we’ll see how we go.”
