There’s no rest for the wicked! The Brisbane Lions players in the rehab group are putting in the hard yards during the off-season, to be completely ready for pre-season as early as possible.  

Lions.com.au caught up with Brisbane Lions Athletic Development & Rehabilitation Coach Selwyn Griffith, who said he’s been busy with a group of rehab boys coming in on their own to do extras.

All post-season surgery has been completed, aside from Michael Close who still requires a minor knee 'clear-out,’ and Griffith is confident that the boys are all tracking well.

"Everyone else (aside from Close) has had the surgery that they require and is basically going on really well,” Griffith said.

The Club’s High Performance team gives players their own rehab plan, built to take them to the start of pre-season, but many players have been making a point of coming in for more.

Griffith has been 'on call' incase any of the players have any questions or issues, and he has been really impressed with their attitudes.

Here are some of the boys that have been coming in for extras, with notes from Griffith:

Claye Beams

Claye has been working heavily on a strength focus for his knee and lower body. He will be training with the team post Christmas.

Dayne Beams

Dayne has started running, and progressed to being able to change direction. He’s done a really extensive lower body strength and plyometrics program and has had no pain or discomfort associated with his previous injury. He continues to work hard in preparation for pre-season.

Tom Cutler

Tom is recovering from a shoulder reconstruction. He’s going well, and doing everything that he can. He’s a professional, hence being named our 2016 Most Professional Player. At this stage he won’t return to the main group until post Christmas.

Dan McStay 

Dan is recovering well from his fractured ankle. His main focus is lower body strength and he will return to running in around a month. He will return to training with the main group around Christmas. 

Sam Skinner

It’s just early stages of his ACL rehab program, but he’s progressing really well and ahead of schedule. It’s a long journey but Sam is a ripping kid and is going to be phenomenal.

  Skinner on Schedule

Marco Paparone

Progressing well after having hamstring surgery. His biggest thing is his lower body strength. We need to get him as strong as possible before he returns to running. He should return to running in a month and will build up to pre-season with the team.

Ryan Lester

Lester is recovering really well from minor lower back surgery, he has responded really well and has begun his rehab progressions.  He will progress really slowly through to returning to training with the team about a month into pre-season.

Lewis Taylor and Darcy Gardiner

Both Taylor and Gardiner had pretty ‘routine' ankle arthroscopes. There are no issues with them, they’ve both already started running on the AlterG and will be there on day one of pre-season.

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