Star midfielder Adam Treloar says the last month of training has helped him build a solid base of fitness, as he eyes a return to the field as early as this weekend.

The 28-year-old suffered an ankle syndesmosis injury in round 10 against St Kilda, and after overcoming a ‘hump’ in his recovery, is now putting his hand up to play.

“I’ve had a really good block of training over the last 3-4 weeks – it was a real nightmare for a while,” Treloar told Gerard Whateley and Garry Lyon on AFL 360.

“There was a bit (of time) where there was a bit of a hump to get over, but I’m feeling really good now and have built a really good base.

“I’m looking forward to training, and then putting my case forward to run out there with the boys. It’s been a long 11 weeks.”

Having had a history of soft-tissue injuries, this setback was unlike one Treloar had dealt with before.

He admitted there was a moment where he doubted if he would be ready to return during the home-and-away season.

“I didn’t recover well from surgery the way I wanted to – it took a little bit for me to get back on legs again,” Treloar explained.

“That’s typically what happens when you do a (syndesmosis injury) – you come back pretty quickly, but it took a lot longer than what I anticipated.

“It got to a point where we really had to push the envelope, and I guess get over that hump that was really stopping me.”

“(Once I) got over that hump, I then built a really good base.”

Treloar was impactful early on in his 2021 campaign, averaging 25 disposals, four tackles and four clearances across the opening ten rounds.

The Bulldogs will release their extended squad tonight at 6.20pm, ahead of Sunday’s clash against Essendon at Marvel Stadium.