By Toby Prime
TRISTAN Tweedie is like a caged lion.
The Eastern Ranges product is eager to get back out on the track after his 2016 campaign was ruined by a fracture in his left foot.
Despite only managing two games in the TAC Cup last year, it didn’t stop the Western Bulldogs taking a punt on the athletic forward.
The Healesville boy has been in the Bulldogs’ rehab group strengthening his foot for his debut season after he was selected in the rookie draft last year.
The injury allowed the 18-year-old just two games for the Eastern Ranges in 2016.
The reigning premiers got Tweedie, who showed glimpses of his talent with six goals in Round 1 of the TAC Cup season last year, out of the moonboot as soon as he arrived at the club.
“They have been really proactive and they are doing a lot of rehab and strengthening at the moment,” Tweedie said.
“As they put it, it is an opportunity to get my body perfect because I didn’t have a good year last year.
“I want to build a great base and look to build from there.”
Tweedie is set to run outside for the first time in eight months this week and baring any interruptions, is hopeful of a return to playing in early April.
“I want to be training with the group by Round 1, I reckon, and then give myself a couple of weeks of training and hopefully play within a month,” he said.
“They have been really cautious so it just depends but hopefully I’ll be back out there late March or early April.”
Premiership players Jason Johannisen, Luke Dahlhaus, Matthew Boyd, Shane Biggs, Dale Morris and Liam Picken were all taken as rookies by the Dogs – now Tweedie is hoping to follow in their footsteps.
“It is an opportunity that was meant to be and I have to make the most of it,” he said.
Last Modified on 24/02/2017 14:28