“I’M MORE confident in my knee from feeling like I’m getting in the right positions.”

An off-season trip to Philadelphia has Sam Docherty optimistic of what lies ahead in pre-season. 

Over the past week, the co-captain’s Instagram has been full of videos from his trip to see specialist Bill Knowles in his recovery from last year’s ACL injury. 

Describing him as “unbelievable at what he does”, Docherty said there was plenty to bring back to Ikon Park when the experienced players officially return on Monday. 

Unsurprisingly, the 2017 John Nicholls Medallist and All Australian can’t wait to be back.

“[The trip] was to try and get as much confidence in my knee as I can before I start training,” Docherty said on RSN.

“We were there for six days and basically from 9am to 4:30pm with a small break in the middle. We were just training, doing extras and working through the progression of the running and change of direction stuff.

“It was really good, really beneficial and we’ve got a heap out of it that we can bring back.”

Docherty has steadily built into his recovery since his injury in December last year, seeking the advice of Knowles alongside a physio from the Club.

With the “really intense block” culminating his preparation before the beginning of pre-season, Docherty said he and the Club were taking a risk-free mindset.

“I probably won’t full train until mid-January, but I’ll be in and out of certain things basically from day one,” he said.

“We’re being a bit more hesitant and making sure everything is right and ready to go.

“We’re taking out as much risk as we can before playing practice games and getting ready for the season.”

The 26-year-old felt he was as fit as he has ever been last year, but is heading into the 2020 pre-season leaner than previous campaigns. 

As Docherty put it, this pre-season with an eye always towards Round 1.

“My aim has always been Round 1 and the way we set my program up is to give me the best opportunity to be ready to go and perform and my knee is feeling as good as it possibly can for Richmond in Round 1,” he said.

“I’m definitely leaner than I was last year and less kgs makes it a little bit easier to run.

“You can’t just put stress through the knee consistently for 12 months. It’s not great for your knee and not great for your head.

“We timed this trip… right at the end of that was to do a really intense block in the States. I’ve come back, will have a little bit of rest and then we’re back on Monday. 

“I’m looking forward to it.”