DEFENDER Colin Garland is confident he can bounce back strongly in 2015, after an ankle injury in the pre-season robbed him of his best football this year.

Garland, who entered 2014 having just been pipped by Nathan Jones for the Melbourne best and fairest award in 2013, did not play his first AFL match until round eight this year.

Although he managed to play the rest of the season – except the final round against North Melbourne, when he missed round 23 with a knee injury – Garland said he was confident he could return to the type of form he showed in 2013.

But he added that he was always going to be behind the eight ball in 2014, due to an operation early in the year. 

“Having ankle surgery in February is not something you want to be doing,” he said.

“That was a later start to the year. I had a good consistent patch for six or seven games. I had a few more problems with my body and fitness as well – I just couldn’t get my training in during the week because I had niggles as well.

“I had an interrupted year and I wasn’t overly happy with how my year panned out.”

In hindsight, the leader was philosophical about his season.

“I wouldn’t say I was frustrated because sometimes the cards fall that way in terms of injury,” he said.

“I’ve been pretty lucky in the last three or four years – I’ve had no real injuries. I just see it as an opportunity now going into this pre-season – I’ll be able to do the full program.

“I know I’ve got real improvement in me, in terms of my fitness and getting my training loads into me, which improves your whole game. I just see it as an opportunity where I can improve next year.”

Although Garland had been a prominent figure in 2013, given his outstanding form, he took more of a background role this year, as he concentrated on returning from injury. 

“I probably would prefer it the way it was this year – more in the background to be honest,” he said.

“It’s just one of those things where times in the past, the club has needed someone to stand up in terms of on the field or off the field.

“I would probably prefer to have more of a background role.”