Farrer League star Nick Hull isn't getting carried away about his comeback for East Wagga-Kooringal on Saturday, insisting he's just happy to help out when he can.
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But his commitment to take on Coleambally can't be faulted, with the Young-based Hull ready for a three-and-a-half-hour drive each way to play for the Hawks, who are without key forward Jarrad Boumann (who hurt a hip against Temora two weeks ago) and ruckman Kyle North-Flanagan (who had surgery after breaking his nose against North Wagga).
Hull was more than happy to step into the breach despite playing just one reserve grade game after being coaxed into coming back.
"It's always tough out there against Coleambally," Hull said.
"I don't think I'll be playing every game but the club knows that I'll just be a week-by-week proposition. If I've got something else on, I've got something else on. We'll see how it plays out."
A sore and weary Hull was committed to having 2020 off, even before the cursed coronavirus arrived, but said his body is feeling fine, even if he hasn't had much of a preparation.
"Real good. But I haven't done any real training. I had a run at Coota last week (with some former EWK teammates) but other than that I haven't really run in about nine months," he said.
"I went for a run during the week at home before the Temora game."
Hull has been named at centre-half-forward with Ben Cadzow listed at full-forward but is likely to give youngster Caleb Wild a spell in the ruck.
The two-time league medallist said the idea of playing footy simply for the fun of it is appealing.
"It was just a bit of boredeom on Saturdays. I need something to do. But there's no real pressure on me this time around," he said.
"It's not as if I've committed and done a full pre-season and feel like (I need to) go out there and win every game. I can just come in and play a role."
Hull reckons he kicked '80 helicopters' and not a single drop punt in the seconds two weeks ago but the inclusion of the league's premier ruckman in recent years (who's also kicked 115 goals in 65 games from 2016-19) is massive against a Blues side desperate to get their first win at home.
The Hawks also have key defender Tim Smith back in. Ben Absolum and Trent Garner remain out.
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