CHRIS Knights is well on his way to an AFL comeback and says the Tigers’ pre-season match against Port Adelaide in Lavington will be another key milestone in his recovery from an ACL injury.
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Knights is competing with emerging talent Sam Lloyd and Nathan Gordon for a spot across half-forward, but he ticked a major box in the Tigers NAB Challenge hitout against the Bulldogs last weekend, kicking two goals.
The 28-year-old said he was looking forward to just getting back on the park after a long couple of years out.
“I’m really looking forward to getting out there against Port, obviously it’s important for us to get out into the community, and an area like this is a real heartland of AFL,” Knights said.
“You look at the quality of the Ovens and Murray league, people really love their footy here so it’ll be good to show some support for grassroots footy.”
Knights said he was looking forward to a more local atmosphere in the match against Port Adelaide.
“It’s exciting to play footy back here, to be able to hear the fans and smell the barbecue from the field will be a real reminder of where footy come from,” he said.
Knights was with team-mates Alex Rance, Jake Batchelor and Ben Lennon in Corowa running football clinics for Corowa Public School as part of the AFL’s Community Camps program.
Lennon said the Tigers were confident they could give the Power a run for their money in Lavington, after a number of key players sat out in the Bulldogs game.
“We took a younger side in against the Dogs on the weekend, and I thought they showed a lot of good signs even if they didn’t pick up the win,” he said.
“Port have been a really strong side over the last couple of seasons, so it’ll be a good test to see where we’re at as a club and where to go from there.
“Obviously Anthony Miles is a local here, but a lot of the other guys on the list come from country areas so they’re keen to get up here and have a run around, and hopefully put in a really good performance.
“Coming to an area like the North East really breaks up the routine, it’s nice to get out of Melbourne and work with the kids a little bit.
“It really reminds you where you’ve come from as a kid, learning how to play the game.”
Port Adelaide announced yesterday assistant coach Matthew Nicks will coach the side in its first two NAB Challenge matches.
