Neale up for Freo rebuild

GUN midfielder Lachie Neale is confident an interrupted start to the pre-season after knee surgery will not affect his ability to have a big say in rebuilding the Fremantle brand next year.

Neale, who returned from a week off because of soreness to feature in the season-ending defeat to Essendon last Sunday, will have an arthroscope of his troublesome knee tomorrow.

He also requires up to six weeks’ rest to overcome a nagging groin complaint.

Neale said he would map out a pre-season plan with club fitness staff this week.

The club’s Doig medallist is due to spend three weeks in Europe on holiday with his fiancee after the presentation of this year’s best-and-fairest award on October 7.

“I’ve been better [physically], but I’ll be fine,” Neale said.

“I’ll have four to six weeks off legs and a bit of a break.

“I’ll have surgery on Friday and then be right to go for pre- season, hopefully, and away we go.

“Once I build my run back up, I’ll be right to go.”

Neale had a delayed start to his most recent pre-season campaign after working his way back from knee, wrist and shoulder surgery.

He has been battling a groin issue for most of this year, but is confident rest will resolve the problem.

“I’ve got a bit of bone reaction inside my groin but, for me, my bone actually feels really good. It’s just my muscle has no power,” Neale said.

“It’s come from a bone reaction, stress reaction type of thing. It just needs some rest.

“I’m not sure if I’ll be full training [at the start of preseason in November], but I’ll have a bit of a break and then build my run-up from there. I’ll get a lot more work in than I did this year, that’s for sure.”