Speaking to media ahead of his second 'comeback' this year from an ankle injury, veteran Bomber Mark McVeigh says there is intense selection pressure at the club.
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""For the first time in a long time there has been real pressure to earn your spot in the team,"" he said.
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""Because the young players have developed so quickly - they still have a long way to go but they have developed quickly - it has put selection pressure not only on myself but other senior players.
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""I feel that there is light at the end of the tunnel, whether that is two, three of four years away.
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""It really encourages you to keep on the edge of your football. I think it's an important thing as an older player and leader at the club that I need to be at my very best as terms of training and mentally.
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""This game is cut-throat and you need to be 100%, 100% of the time when you are playing for the club. I realise as I get older I need to work harder.""
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McVeigh says the team is excited and upbeat about the 'big challenge' of playing Geelong on Sunday in front of a potentially full-house.
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""We are going to go out and have a real crack and not be obverwhelmed by the occasion and that is important,"" he said.
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""It's good to know you are coming into a team like that.""
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The 28-year-old says it will take a few weeks to get back to full AFL fitness but believes the VFL boys gave him a good hit-out last weekend and tested him physically.
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""I trained quite well last time (he came back in Round 4) and then got a hit when I didn't really need it in the first 15 minutes of the game. I played the rest of the game and woke up the next day quite sore and couldn't walk for the rest of the week,"" he said.
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""This time it's totally different, I have no pain at all. I am moving freely and I feel good and feel confident about where it's at. I am 100% and I have no pain at all.
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""It's been tough (being injured) but I feel priveleged to be picked this week in a team that is building toward great success.""