Albury has signed the league’s first full-time player straight from the AFL.
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Former Greater Western Sydney half-forward Lachie Tiziani will return to the Tigers.
“I just want to enjoy my footy again after a pretty rough year,” he said.
“I just want to get back with my mates at Albury Tigers and have some fun.”
Tiziani was drafted at number 54 in the 2016 AFL Draft after playing as a top-age forward with the Murray Bushrangers and Albury.
He had some injury issues in his first year with the Giants, playing 12 games and averaging 15 disposals in the NEAFL.
But this year was a write-off after he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament against the Gold Coast Suns in the NEAFL’s round two clash.
He was then delisted in October.
“I was a bit devastated, but I had that bad knee injury,” he said.
Despite failing to play an AFL game, the 21-year-old says he improved in a number of areas.
“Just my footy smarts, obviously you’re training basically every day, so my endurance and my knowledge improved tremendously as you’re doing it 24-7,” he said.
Tiziani is an athletic forward, who had kicked three goals in the second quarter against the Suns prior to the injury.
He topped the 2015 AFL Draft combine rankings with an incredible leap of 97cms, so it will be interesting to see if he can retain that power.
Just my footy smarts ... my endurance and my knowledge improved tremendously.
- Lachie Tiziani
Tiziani won’t start the season as a test on his right knee in April – 12 months after the injury – will dictate a return date.
The 190cm Tiziani is the league’s second recruit straight from the elite level.
However, former Gold Coast Sun Max Spencer has nominated Wangaratta Rovers as his second home, but he’s expected to play the bulk of the year at VFL level.
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