Meredith, 21, gathered 18 possessions in the Swans’ 30-point win over the Kangaroos at the SCG on Sunday, including several key touches in the second half as North threatened a late charge.
His previous senior game came in round eight, 2009 and the Northern Knights junior said he was rapt to be back in the team after a series of unrelated injuries cruelled his bid to add to his AFL tally.
“It’s been great to get back in the side. At the start of the year, my goal was to build on the games I played last year and it’s taken me a while to get back in,” he said.
Unlike many young players, form was less an issue for Meredith than misfortune when it came to injuries.
He broke an arm in a reserves game immediately after his most recent senior match and a quad strain hampered his preparation for the 2010 season.
When he finally made it back to the reserves side, he struggled to shake off the injury curse.
“I played a couple of games in the reserves and then sort of hurt my knee a little bit, so I missed a couple after that. I’ve been just building up, playing half games so it did take me a while to get my match fitness back,” he said.
Meredith admitted to a bad case of nerves before Sunday’s game against North but his assured performance belied his pre-game jitters.
“It was like I was playing my first game again, to be honest. I was really nervous before the game and I had the adrenaline pumping. It was just great to get out there and be with the boys,” he said.
“I’m hoping to play out the whole season in the seniors but I’ve just got to keep working hard and doing the right things. Hopefully I can stay in the side.”
Swans coach Paul Roos suggested after the game that Meredith’s goal was well within reach, providing his fitness and form held up.
“He’s a really smart player. We know he’s got AFL talent; he just hasn’t been able to get a good run with injuries,” Roos said.
“He had a couple of really telling possessions today; I think he ended up with 18. The game suits him because he can run, he can kick it, he knows where to go to get it, so I thought he was good.”
