Dan Robinson has joined the chorus of Sydney Swans youngsters determined to cement a spot in the midfield rotation in 2017, declaring himself fit and over the shoulder issues that dogged his past two seasons.
The 22-year-old has played 11 games since debuting in Round 9, 2015. A broken collarbone however, while playing for the NEAFL Swans in Round 20, derailed what was a promising season for the skilled and speedy on-baller.
A full pre-season though had the boy from the Mosman Swans back on track. He opened his 2016 campaign in style with 17 disposals against Collingwood in Round 1, before retaining his spot for the following six games.
But injury struck again, this time in the form of a dislocated shoulder against Essendon in Round 7, which sidelined him for four months.
He fought back to play the final two games of the NEAFL Swans’ season, including the Grand Final against GWS, but left his run too late for a senior recall.
Ahead of his fourth season of AFL, an injury-free Robinson is eager to make the most of his latest opportunity.
“The shoulder is feeling great, it’s the best it has felt since the surgery,” he said.
“I got a couple of games at the end of last year but I wouldn’t say I was 100 percent fit and ready to go.
“I rehabbed it fully before I left for the off-season, which meant going into my personal off-season and pre-season I’ve been able to do the full training and do everything I needed to do.
“It gives me a lot of confidence that I can just go out there and perform at my best.”
Robinson, who signed a two-year contract extension in August, will have his work cut out for him as a host of teammates join the queue for more midfield minutes.
Among them will be Isaac Heeney, Callum Mills and Zak Jones, who’ve all enjoyed strong pre-seasons and impressed when given respective opportunities at the senior level in the last two years.
Robinson is undaunted by the challenges, saying competition for spots is healthy for the overall performance of the squad.
“We’ve all had a run through there this pre-season,” Robinson said.
“It’s an exciting young group coming through.
“It just drives you a bit harder knowing you’ve got guys breathing down your neck, all trying to get the same spot.
“Good competition means we’re all pushing our hardest and trying to get the best out of each other.”
Robinson will line up for Sunday’s JLT Community Series clash with North Melbourne in Coffs Harbour.
There he’ll remain with teammates for the next two days as the Sydney Swans embark on a training camp on the north coast.
