Gold Coast Suns midfielder Michael Barlow bounces back from broken leg with big preseason

MICHAEL Barlow prepared for the worst and celebrated the best. The Gold Coast Suns midfielder opens up about his return from a second broken leg.

Michael Barlow is showing no lingering effects from the broken leg he suffered earlier this year. Picture: Tracey Nearmy, AAP.

MICHAEL Barlow prepared for the worst and celebrated the best.

The Gold Coast Suns midfielder said his successful return from a broken leg — the second of his career — as seamless as he continues to carry the mantle of the club’s fittest man.

“I’m absolutely stoked,” Barlow said six months after suffering the horrific injury while playing Carlton in Round 13.

“When I did do it, you go in with all the optimism that you will get back no worries and have no set backs.

Michael Barlow is showing no lingering effects from the broken leg he suffered earlier this year. Picture: Tracey Nearmy, AAP.

“From the first time I did it I did have a lot of set backs. (This time) I wrapped my head around the more pessimistic view despite probably externally telling everyone I’ll be all right. “It has really gone seamlessly. I have had a few sore spots here and there but that is probably to be expected and I haven’t missed a session the whole preseason so touch wood that keeps going.

“I’m just thrilled to be back out training and doing what I love.”

Gold Coast’s best runner labelled the team’s final pre-Christmas training session on Thursday as the hardest of his nine-year career with new coach Stuart Dew introducing game-related drills, something traditionally rarely seen until the new year.

Michael Barlow broke his leg in Round 13 against Carlton at Metricon Stadium. Picture: Jason O'Brien, Getty Images.

“That session ... was right at the top of the podium of what I have done in my nine-year career,” Barlow said.

“There was some really good intensity and some game-like stuff — some real competitive stuff — and we are seeing it right across the board.

“For me they don’t get any harder. In December across my career we haven’t done a lot of that.

“What we will find once you get to the JLT we are more used to that burst and that contact so it doesn’t catch us off guard as much.”

Gold Coast will enter the new year with a relatively healthy list with recruit Harrison Wigg (fractured ankle) the only injured player.

Pearce Hanley - who recently had hand surgery - will begin greater contact work when the players return on January 9 while Sam Day won’t be far behind as he continues to progress from his hip injury.

Originally published as Gold Coast Suns midfielder Michael Barlow bounces back from broken leg with big preseason