Track Watch: Geelong tall Sam De Koning back in thick of training after off-season surgery
Sam De Koning had been eased into pre-season after undergoing surgery, but he was back in the thick of it for Geelong’s last session. And Bailey Smith was busy.
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A bulked-up Sam De Koning was back in the thick of things after off-season knee surgery at Geelong’s final session of the year.
De Koning has been absent from several trainings at Waurn Ponds Deakin since the Cats returned at the start of December, instead completing his own program in at the club.
The 23-year-old underwent a minor procedure on his knee after landing awkwardly against Adelaide in round 21 – missing the final three games of the home and away season – and had further surgery in the off-season.
De Koning tested his knee in a lengthy warm-up away from the main group under the watchful eye of club medical staff.
The 204 centimetre key defender-ruckman hopped on his right foot, completed sliding jumps and running with a resistance band.
De Koning moved well throughout and then took part in main training where he rucked against new rookie draftee Joe Pike in one half-ground stoppage drill.
He did not complete running at the end of the session but neither did recruits Bailey Smith and Jack Martin and several other veterans, including captain Patrick Dangerfield.
A recent gym photo of De Koning’s biceps on Geelong’s social media channels earlier this month caught the eye of fans.
That flick certainly wasn’t photoshopped with the talented tall visibly stronger on the track.
De Koning found himself on the outer to finish the 2024 season, overlooked for Geelong’s preliminary final loss despite having two VFL finals games under his belt.
Out of contract at the end of next season, De Koning will be eager to impress in 2025 after two seasons impacted by injury and form since his breakout year in Geelong’s 2022 premiership campaign.
A clean bill of health helped the Cats surge from 12th to a preliminary final and it looks to be a similar story this pre-season.
Injury-prone ruckman Toby Conway is Geelong’s only real concern and is expected to be available for round one despite being eased through the early stages of the pre-season.
Geelong didn’t complete full-ground match simulation during their final session but Smith and Martin completed all drills as they build towards their first season in the hoops.
Several players left the oval at different times to run hill sprints on the footpath, including premiership duo Mitch Duncan and Jack Henry, and youngsters Jhye Clark and Ted Clohesy.
Once again it was Gryan Miers, Ollie Dempsey and Mitch Knevitt – in that order – leading the running to close out the session.
Another man who caught the eye on the track was American superfan Anthony George, who chatted with players and Cats coach Chris Scott during and after training.
George has lived in Utah for the past 26 years and never misses a Cats game.
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Originally published as Track Watch: Geelong tall Sam De Koning back in thick of training after off-season surgery
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