IT'S BEEN a difficult year for all the Demons, but one member of the side has been particularly frustrated.

After having his 2006 season ruined by the dreaded 'footballer'scurse' of osteitis pubis, Brent Moloney was looking forward to staging a strongassault this year.

However, after just six games, he found himself on thesidelines again, trying desperately to find a way to manage the troublesomecomplaint.

"You just don't know when you're going to beback," he told melbournefc.com.au,speaking of the frustration associated with the chronic problem.

"You've got to be really careful in your training andwhat you do, and it's very frustrating because people keep asking you, 'Whenare you going to be back?', and you can't answer them.

"But, I'm finally back. I'm just happy to getthrough."

Moloney has been plagued by the injury for almost two yearsand while he admits it's still "not totally gone", he has found waysto manage the symptoms more effectively.

Core-strengthening activities such as yoga and pilates nowdominate his program and, with the help of "lots of physio", Moloneyis confident the worst is now behind him.

"I hope I can move forward now. As long as I manage itand don't stay out there too long and keep to about 60 per cent game time, I shouldbe okay," he said.

"I've been pulling up good. At the start of the season,I was pulling up terribly and that's why I had to stop.

"Now, I'm feeling good. After today, I'm feeling a lotmore confident, so hopefully I can knock off a few games and finish the rest ofthe season off."

He celebrated his return to the game with a 17-disposal,one-goal performance against the Kangaroos.

"I thought I played okay in patches. As I said, it wasgreat to be back. I love playing for Melbourne,and just to get back and get through is a positive."

Having not playing since round seven, much has changed sincethe last time Moloney ran out with the side.

He said the fact the Demons have struggled this year madehim impatient.

"I missed 11 games and it was very frustrating. As muchas I love Melbourne - I've barracked for them my whole life - sometimes Ididn't want to go [to games] because I've sat on the sidelines for solong," he said.

"It's hard, but you've just got to get there andsupport the boys, and hopefully they get a win.

"I wanted to come back earlier and earlier, and [thecoaches] were pulling me back saying, 'Not yet, not yet'.

"It was frustrating, but it's all behind me now and Ilook forward to finishing the rest of the season off."

One thing he didn't find hard was fitting into the sideunder the tutelage of caretaker coach Mark Riley, who took over from NealeDaniher midway through Moloney's time on the sidelines.

"Bomber is really good and the players are right behindhim. We really enjoy his enthusiasm and his voice – he's a very goodtalker," he said.

"All the players love him."