After spending 17 weeks on the sidelines, it was a great feeling to be back out on the field last weekend.

I’ve spoken a fair bit already in this column throughout the season about the difficulties I faced during my rehabilitation from a torn lateral meniscus.

What was meant to keep me out for around three months took a while longer mostly due to the fact that I contracted a staph infection after surgery.

It’s been more than four months now, but I am glad I have been able to have one last crack at it before the season is over.

While I always remained confident of making a return, there were probably some doubts surrounding whether I would actually be able to play again this year.

Even though I only played the first half, last Saturday afternoon’s reserves match against the Western Magpies was enough to make me feel as though all the hard work in rehab has been worth it.

I felt about as fresh as I have ever been and really enjoyed being part of the contest again.

I have been training with the full Lions group for the past few weeks now and even done some running for the reserves so my fitness levels had definitely improved, although it’s fair to say that the hitout gave me some much needed match conditioning.

Fortunately, I pulled up really well and will look to get even more minutes under my belt this week in the reserves’ Elimination Final against Mt Gravatt on Sunday at Coorparoo.

There is still a definite possibility that I could be ready to play with the senior team by the time the Finals start. It will obviously depend on my own form, fitness and whether the Match Committee believes I can be of value to the team.

It will be tough to break into a side that has performed so well all year, but I’ll certainly be putting my hand up.

I have never played in an AFL Final and would obviously love to experience the big stage of playing in September. That could also be said for more than three quarters of the Club’s playing list who have never played in a Final.

In fact, only nine of our current players have experienced a Final. That leaves 37 players who have never tasted September action - at least until next week.

There is a real sense of excitement and enthusiasm among the playing group, but we aren’t getting too ahead of ourselves.

This Saturday night’s match against Sydney at the SCG is critical because a win would secure us a home Gabba Final against the loser of Saturday’s match between Carlton and Adelaide. A loss will leave us seventh and while we would still play the loser of the Carlton v Adelaide match - it would be on their home turf.