COLLINGWOOD defender Nathan Brown is on track to return in time for round one, as he looks to move past what can only be described as a horror 2014 campaign.
Brown underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in May this year – ruining yet another season for the luckless key defender.
The 25-year-old has already set his sights on being ready to go in the opening round, after recovering from the shoulder operation and off-season hip surgery.
"I've put in a lot and I'm really happy to be out there and the body's feeling great," Brown said after the Magpies' open training session on Friday.
"The plan is to keep training really hard and get my body to the level without it being sore and injured.
"I'll definitely be thereabouts for round one."
Brown managed just three games last season, continuing an injury-riddled couple of years for the 2010 premiership defender.
Having returned to full training at the start of November, and by ensuring he completed the appropriate rehabilitation, Brown is confident that the worst of his injury issues are behind him.
"I'll be heavily taping my shoulder for the rest of my career but the shoulder's really good and the surgeon's done really well with that so I'm feeling really confident in it," Brown said.
"They've basically screwed it in so it's not coming out anymore, which is good.
"I have complete faith in it and I'll be my usual self come round one."
Jack Frost and Lachie Keeffe filled in admirably for the more experienced Brown and Ben Reid in 2014, so all of a sudden the Magpies' key defensive stocks are looking a lot healthier heading into next season.
Brown said it was tough to watch his teammates from the sidelines last year, particularly after he, Reid and Tyson Goldsack had spoken about the fact it was their turn to step up and lead.
But he has this year to make amends and that is all he is focusing on.
"That's given me that fire in my belly to really go forward and step it up this year," Brown said.
