After recovering from a knee reconstruction two years ago and having to learn Fremantle’s game plan off a computer screen, Jon Griffin is fit and firing and ready for a big 2015.
The 201cm ruckman managed to play one game of AFL last season, but is poised to give Ross Lyon a selection headache this year after an impressive pre-season campaign.
Griffin has been pleased with his season preparation and said his body has been holding up really well.
“It’s the most pre-season training I’ve probably done for two years, so I’m feeling really confident and excited for the season,” he said.
“It’s really exciting, games are starting and you sort of get tired of just running around the oval and doing kicking drills.
“The body is feeling really good, I feel awesome.
“It’s the best I’ve felt for the past two years.
“Doing a huge amount of the pre-season has definitely helped and I’ve got a lot of confidence out of doing all that training and being a part of all the drills.”
Griffin was frustrated by having to use technology to understand the game plan during his injury rehabilitation, so he’s glad to be back on the field.
“It was really hard to sort of learn the structures on the computers and so forth over the last couple of years, so to actually spend a bit of time up forward and get to know the structures a lot better…definitely helped,” he said.
Griffin also took part in the recent AFL Indigenous Camp and All Stars match against West Coast, describing the week-long event as a ‘special’ experience.
INDIGENOUS CAMP
“It was surreal,” he said.
“Having it here in Perth, being my home state and having family members at some of the ceremonies and stuff like that was really special for me individually.
“Being able to share it with people from all around Australia, it was really special and something that I’ll take with me forever in my life.
“I got an extraordinary amount of satisfaction out of being part of that camp.”
After an impressive start to the year, ‘Griff’ just can’t wait to pull on a purple and white jumper.
“I’ve got a great deal of confidence out of the (pre-season) and I’m really excited for 2015.
“My aim is to just stay healthy and try to play the best footy I can and do what’s best for the footy club and the team.
“I can’t wait for the season to start.”
Football now a reality for Griffin
Jon Griffin is fit and firing and ready for a big season