Come in from the fringe

THURLOW’S GO MAY BE ON WING

JACKSON Thurlow wants 2018 to be the year he shakes that tag of being known as a promising Cat and firmly entrenches himself as a regular in Geelong’s best 22.

The 23-year-old former first round draft pick has forged a reputation as one of Geelong’s brightest talents, but is yet to deliver on the potential consistently throughout his 39 AFL games.

Thurlow will jump into the water to compete in today’s Pier to Pub in Lorne. He hopes it won’t be the only splash he makes this year, eyeing a spot in Geelong’s midfield ahead of the most crucial season of his short AFL career.

“It’s the old cliche saying, ‘the breakout year’ and who is the old ‘pre-season hero’, but I think for my footy and my footy career it’s really important for me (to have a big season),” said Thurlow, who endured a stop-start 2017 after missing the entire 2016 season with a serious knee injury.

“You just don’t know, you could be kicked out the door in 12 to 24 months’ time. I am really lucky with the position I’m in. Even though I had 12 months out I am really fit and keen and firing at the moment.

“A lot changes through preseason. I’m hoping to settle in midfield, hopefully in one of those wing roles.

“I’m trying my best to improve each day and hopefully all that can lead to me being picked early in the season.”

Geelong hit the track for a solid session at a soggy Waurn Ponds base yesterday, getting an early opportunity to get some wet weather training in.

Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield, who missed Wednesday’s first training session back, was a notable absentee in humid conditions, an absence said to be planned as part of his individual training program.

Thurlow was one of the standouts for the Cats during the 2016 summer before suffering the season-ending knee injury in Geelong’s pre-season hit-out against Essendon in Shepparton.

And after diligently going through his recovery, the rebounding defender returned for Geelong’s Round 1 clash against Fremantle last season.

He went on to play in six of Geelong’s first seven games before an extended spell in the VFL after failing to make the most of his opportunities.

Thurlow returned to the AFL fold late, but a 16-possession performance in Round 22 against Collingwood wasn’t enough to hold his spot come finals.

“Coming off 12 months out of the game, it can play on your mind a fair bit,” he said.

“The first games I played last year I did (think about my knee). Not going into the game thinking about it, but at times you do think about it which is only natural.

“But not any more. I’m as strong as I’ve ever been in my legs, my knee is strong. Everything seems to be going well with my body.”

Thurlow, one of six Cats set to compete in Lorne today, said Lachie Henderson would be the one to beat.

Henderson’s participation in the race is a positive after enduring an interrupted preseason with knee troubles.

Joel and Scott Selwood, George Horlin-Smith and Mark Blicavs will also swim in the 1.2km event.

“Hendo has got the 3228 postcode, he’s Torquay,” Thurlow said. “He’s the man to beat. Him and his mates, a few of the Torquay boys, have a few plans for us boys.

“The rest of us are just happy to finish.”