After a relaxing Christmas break spent with family and friends, GIANTS defender Lachie Plowman returned to training with his sights set on a big 2015.
That all came to a sudden holt in the first training session of the year when the 20 year old dislocated his elbow in a training mishap.
Now, almost eight months later, Plowman is on the verge of playing his first AFL match for the season.
“I’m excited to be back, it’s been a long year,” said Plowman on the eve of the GIANTS’ clash against Carlton.
"The hard work has paid off and it’s good to be back playing some senior footy."
Taken with pick three in the 2012 NAB AFL draft, Plowman is one of six changes to the GIANTS' team playing Carlton at Spotless Stadium on Saturday.
After playing 18 games in his first two seasons, Plowman's hopes for a big 2015 came crashing down in a marking contest which would see him miss six months of football.
"When I initially did the injury it was a bit of a tentative process where we didn’t know how long it would have me sidelined but when I had the surgery I was lucky enough to find out that the damage wasn’t too bad.
“From there we made the rehabilitation plans and the (rehab and physio) boys did well to get me back out there and here I am playing some good footy again."
When Plowman walked off the training track with three broken bones in his left arm, little did he know the worst was still to come.
“It was pretty painful but the worst pain was popping it back in. The aches of the break and all the muscles being torn was pretty full on."
While 2015 hasn’t gone to plan for the tough defender, Plowman is delighted to see his team mates take big strides forward, winning more games this year than the previous three seasons combined.
“It’s been exciting. Not frustrating but a bit annoying I couldn’t be out there enjoying some of the success the other boys were having, but hopefully we’re moving on to bigger and better things soon enough.”
