Veteran Port Adelaide ruckman Scott Lycett says his reconstructed shoulders are again ready to carry an AFL load as a batch of youngsters challenge for his spot.
Lycett played just four games last year after having his right shoulder reconstructed in April.
It was the third time in his 12-year AFL career that Lycett has undergone a shoulder reconstruction – and all post-surgery recoveries were hampered by infections.
Lycett’s latest ailment prompted the Power to deploy Jeremy Finlayson in ruck and also select 23-year-old Brynn Teakle in the midseason draft, only for the West Australian to break a collarbone on AFL debut.
Port also have 23-year-old Sam Hayes and Dante Visentini, a 19-year-old untried at AFL level, among their ruck stocks.
The 30-year-old Lycett can sense they’re all gunning for his first-choice ruck spot.
“Having competition for spots is only beneficial for the team,” Lycett told reporters on Monday.
“You look at the best teams and there’s guys absolutely knocking the door down and they can’t get a game so it’s definitely good for the team.
“He (Teakle) is pushing me at training and young Haysey and Dante as well … these guys are all pretty young and I am one of the older ones so they’re definitely going to be trying to come for that spot.
“We will wait and see and leave it up to the coaches. The best trainers will get the spot.”
Lycett said he was fully recovered from his latest shoulder surgery which coincided with Port’s fall.
The Power last season lost their initial five games and missed the playoffs after playing, and losing, consecutive preliminary finals.
“It’s just good to be back on the park and actually kicking the footy around, I was used to sitting on my ass all last year so it’s good to be doing my job,” he said.
“Watching last year and how we went, we didn’t start the way we wanted and missing out on finals after playing in two prelims in a row, the whole team was disappointed.
“So I am really looking forward to getting back out there. I had a good off-season and good pre-season and games are just around the corner.”
Port’s preseason campaign will include a trip to Perth for trial games against West Coast and Fremantle at the end of this month ahead of their premiership season-opener against Brisbane on March 18.
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