Collingwood high-flyer Jamie Elliott is desperate to overcome lingering hamstring issues and become a genuine midfield option.
Elliott played 17 games last year as he battled left hamstring tendinitis and eventually tore his right hamstring twice late in the year.
He is easing into the pre-season and recently had a cortisone shot that has eased his symptoms.
There are massive opportunities for midfield time given Collingwood’s list transition as well as the chance to step up as a leader.
Elliott believes he can thrive in both areas, with the regular Mark of the Year contender eager to add another string to his bow after kicking 33 goals in 2014.
“I would love to just play forward but if I want to take my game to the next level it’s about moving into the midfield,’’ he said.
“I don’t see myself as a full-time forward, if I can get a big chunk of the pre-season in maybe I can go 50-50 and it will make us harder to play against and give other guys a rest.
“(The midfield) will be completely different with Bally (Luke Ball) and Beamsy (Dayne Beams) gone. It gives guys like Taylor Adams and Levi Greenwood and even Steele Sidebottom more chances and it’s really exciting for us.”
The spring-heeled jack battled all year with his hamstring issues but knew he was going to ultimately hit the wall.
“In March I was diagnosed with hamstring tendinitis in my left hamstring and it was my right hamstring taking the whole load and in the last five weeks I did two hamstrings,” he said.
“I got two PRP (platelet rich plasma) injections and had a big block off (post-season) and had two or three weeks trying to run and it didn’t pull up too well so I had a (cortisone jab) and it’s really settled down well.”
Elliott will wear retired former captain Nick Maxwell’s No. 5 in 2015, moving from No. 19.