Lavington's Matt Pendergast looking to have impact on return

Pendergast will play his 298^th game - and first senior one in 14 months - when the Panthers host Wangaratta Rovers on Saturday.

IN OTHER NEWS:

"I had a chat with Simon and said that we were on top of the ladder and had a lot of kids doing well and I didn't want to just roll in and take someone's spot, it was an awkward situation really," he said.

'He (Curtis) said hopefully I'm in the plans and that was good enough for me, so I've slowly been working away over the last month or so and feel like I'm ready to go."

The 36-year-old broke both bones in his lower right leg during a freak accident against North Albury in May, 2018.

"At Christmas time I didn't have any thoughts about playing footy at all the way I was feeling, the recovery was taking that long," he said.

"This Saturday was a long way from my mind, I just chipped away and once the body started to come good and I started running on top of the ground (I knew I could come back).

"I did miss the footy, I missed the footy club, I missed competing, I'm not a great watcher of the game, I'd rather be out there."

The long-time O and M star says his leg is fine, adding though the body is sore.

He's played only two reserves games due to firefighting work commitments, but is now free on weekends.

"The milestone (300 games) has been in the back of my mind, but it's not my motivation," he said.

"You never say never (re playing next year), but hopefully I can have an impact and we finish on a high, I could walk away pretty content.

"You feel like you're betraying the family a bit and being a bit selfish now with all their commitments.

"Life changes and footy doesn't last, but I thought I'd seize the opportunity."