Border Mail |
NORTH Albury is poised to unleash a bigger, stronger Josh Lloyd in the run home to finals.
Lloyd has made a sooner than-expected recovery from a knee reconstruction in February and the talented tall shapes as a finals wildcard for the fast-improving Hoppers.
Lloyd, 22, has put on 10 kilograms of muscle over five months and would provide another dangerous option for first-year North Albury coach Jason Akermanis in attack.
It will take the pressure off Akermanis to play star skipper Daniel Leslie forward, after successfully throwing Leslie into the back-half this year.
Lloyd all but ruled himself out of an appearance against Albury on Saturday, but remained upbeat about his chances of a return in the coming weeks.
“At this stage it looks like I will play this year, but it just depends,” Lloyd said.
“I’ve been training for about three weeks now and am yet to pull up sore, which is good.
“But if I do, I’ll pull the pin on this year.
“I’ve been given the all-clear from the surgeon, but I don’t want to push it too far, too soon.”
Lloyd needs to play just one game during the home and away season to qualify for finals.
But the strong marking forward has been given no reason to suggest he won’t be able to play more than once.
“It’s going well,” he said.
“It’s been pretty tough watching, especially because we’ve had a couple of tough years and this year we’re in the finals mix and know we’re capable of doing damage.
“This year has been great for the club.”
Lloyd was keen to point out he was still no certainty to return this season.
“We’re still playing it by ear,” he said.
“Aker is obviously on board again next year and we’re confident of having another big crack at it next year.”
North Albury hosts the Tigers at Bunton Park this week, with the Hoppers’ slim chances of snaring a top-three spot and double chance effectively on the line.
North Albury sits fifth on the ladder after 12 rounds, and is still two wins behind third-placed Lavington.
Akermanis said he will not play on Saturday, having last played against Lavington in round 8.
The Panthers, meanwhile, travel to Wangaratta on Saturday in a danger-game of their own against the Rovers.
