CIARAN Byrne has used his time sidelined with a quad injury to study the game, the 24-year-old says.
Byrne, who has been eased back into footy through limited game-time in the Northern Blues’ past two matches, said he was finding the ball easier after watching vision of other players.
“In both games coming back I was on restricted game-times. I think it was nine kilometres I was doing, so around three quarters,” Byrne said.
“I suppose over the last couple of weeks I was looking at a lot of vision of other players and how they were getting the footy. I worked pretty hard on that during my time off and I found myself getting my hands on the ball a fair bit which has been nice.”
Byrne, who hasn’t featured at senior level since succumbing to injury in the Blues’ Round 2 loss to Gold Coast, was particularly impressive in the Northern Blues’ clash with Williamstown on Sunday, amassing 17 disposals, four marks and three rebound-50s.
The Irishman said he was glad to be back playing football.
“I was injured for a long period of time. I did my quad in Round 2 against Gold Coast and that was a pretty tough time,” he said.
“I got back and played my first game against Footscray a couple of weeks ago and I felt pretty good out there.
“I was lucky enough to have a bye, so I got an extra week of recovery and then was back in against Williamstown on the weekend. It was just nice to be back playing with the boys and getting a bit of a kick.”
It’s not the defender’s first bout with injury, having spent most of 2017 recovering from a ruptured ACL and then a groin injury obtained late in the season.
Having truly learnt the meaning of patience over the past two years, Byrne said he respected the impact a return from injury can have on the body.
“After I’d been out for a long period of time you’re going to pull up pretty sore. It’s all about recovering and getting ready for the next game. I look forward to playing against Werribee this week,” he said.
A return to AFL is back on the horizon for the half-back flanker, affectionately known as ‘Casey’.
“For me at the minute it’s just about getting a lot of training on the track, trying to get my legs up and running again. It’s just about trying to get a bit of consistency in my game,” he said.
“I’ve only played two games at the minute so if I can string together a couple of performances in the VFL hopefully I put my hand up for selection in the AFL.
“I’d like to be back before the end of the year. It would be pretty nice.”
With his newfound knowledge of the game, Bluebaggers will no doubt be ready to see an injury-free Byrne take to the big stage again soon.
