Garner has been given the green light by Lions physios to play against the Tigers in the AFLQ Velocity Sports Cup Round 2 match after a strenuous rehabilitation from two consecutive knee reconstructions.
Since being drafted to the club with selection No.27 in the 2004 AFL National Draft, Garner has endured a horror run with injuries.
He spent the bulk of his debut season at the club developing with the Lions’ reserves team before making his first official club appearance the following year in the NAB Cup competition.
The then teenager played valuable minutes against both Essendon and Melbourne during the pre-season competition, but fell victim to a knee injury in the final club practice match on the Gold Coast and required a full reconstruction.
After spending 12 months on the sidelines working closely with fellow casualty and team mate Richard Hadley, Garner returned to training at the beginning of the 2007 season – only to injure his knee once again in a seemingly harmless running drill.
Missing a second consecutive season through injury was a bitter pill for the young Queenslander to swallow, yet Garner persisted and remained determined to resume his football career.
Although little fanfare will be made of the Gabba curtain-raiser, it will mark an important occasion for the 21 year-old Lion rookie.
