ACCOMPLISHED Wagga Tigers defender John Anstee has declared himself ‘100 per cent’ fit for his return in Saturday’s second semi-final.
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Anstee last week returned from a well-timed overseas trip ready for Tigers’ highly-anticipated finals campaign.
Anstee underwent surgery for a broken bone in his foot back in June and only returned to training when back in the country last week.
The 25-year-old said his foot is ready to go.
“It feels 100 per cent,” Anstee said.
“I had an X-ray last Monday, it was my first opportunity since coming back from overseas, that was eight weeks post surgery and the surgeon was really happy with the healing.
“I went to training last week and trained (Tuesday) night at 100 per cent with some match intensity and it pulled up really well.
“It’s definitely right for this week.”
Anstee’s return will help further strengthen an already tight defensive group at Tigers, headed by Canberra recruit Dale Walker.
With Walker in fine form at centre-half-back, Anstee may slot in at full-back and be given the job on Leeton-Whitton captain-coach Jade Hodge at Ganmain Sportsground on Saturday.
“I’m not 100 per cent sure yet, we haven’t really spoken too much about (my role) yet,” he said.
“This week I’ll probably start a bit deeper just because of match ups with Leeton having a very tall forward line.
“It’s a bit of a luxury coming back at this time with Dale Walker and Harvey Daniher flying. To have three talls gives us a bit more flexibility.”
Anstee kept a close eye on Tigers scores while overseas.
He said the post-degree getaway has him extremely keen to get back on the field after not previously missing a game at Tigers in his last five seasons.
“I’m so keen. Even just getting back on the training track with the boys after nine weeks off footy has been awesome,” Anstee said.
Tigers will go into the second semi-final as warm favourites. The minor premiers lost just the one game all season and beat Leeton-Whitton at both meetings, by margins of 16 and 42 points.
Anstee knows not to get too carried away.
“There is a pretty good feeling around the club at the moment, especially coming back into it at this time of year,” he said.
“We’re confident we can beat the sides in the league but at the same time we realise that finals is completely different to the regular season.”
