North Melbourne midfielder Dom Tyson set to put horror injury year behind him as he aims for 2020 revival
After injury cruelled his first season at the Roos, midfielder Dom Tyson is yet to fully recover. He reveals the extent of his injury woes as he hopes to make a meaningful impact for his third club in 2020.
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Dom Tyson can finally see the light.
After a frustrating debut season at North Melbourne, Tyson is confident his body will allow him to flourish in 2020.
Tyson’s 2019 campaign – his first at Arden St after crossing from Melbourne at the end of 2018 - was riddled with calf and then shoulder issues.
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He managed just three senior games, but he believed 2020 would be a different story.
“I guess I just couldn’t get on top of my body at any stage (in 2019),” Tyson said.
“I couldn’t really put my hand up to play any consistent footy and I’ve finally sort of seen the light a little bit in terms of my body now.
“I’ve still got to remain pretty diligent; I’m sort of not fully out of the woods yet but I’m starting to make some inroads.”
Tyson said he should be in full training next month, with both his calf and shoulder on track.
“I ended up doing my left calf four times (during the 2019 season),” he said.
“I’d get close and I put my hand up to play late in the year and I actually dislocated my shoulder in a VFL game that required a full reconstruction.
“They’ve both been on a fairly similar recovery timeline, so they should be in a way 100 per cent post-Christmas.”
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The 26-year-old, who has played 110 games in eight seasons, said he was currently taking part in “80 to 90 per cent of training.”
The biggest hurdle has been holding himself back.
“I’d get pulled from a couple of drills and I’m not sure if they’re pulling me for my shoulder or my calf,” Tyson laughed.
“I’m doing some contact on my shoulder and it’s just making sure that really intensity change of direction, they don’t want to expose me too much to that too early.
I was probably getting pulled from training at the start of this pre-season and I’d go: ‘gee I didn’t have much left in me.’
“I could feel my calf tighten up a little bit, but in the last month I’ve felt good and wanted to stay out there.
“They just want to respect the gradual incline of training intensity and volume, which is good because I’m responding well.”
The Kangaroos finished 12th in 2019, but were buoyed by a 7-5 win-loss record after Rhyce Shaw took over from Brad Scott in May.
Tyson said he felt there was a strong hunger in the group after not tasting September action since 2016.
“There’s probably a freshness and a sense of urgency,” he said.
“Guys are on their toes a little bit in a good way, and that probably comes with the fact there’s been a fair turnover in staff in the very important high position roles.
“This is only my second year here but there is a hunger in the group for sure.”
Shaw has been a feature on the track this summer, with the coach often joining his players during sessions.
Tyson joked his coach sometimes did not practice what he preached.
“He jumps in for a few drills and he sells candy and does some worm burner kicks,” Tyson laughed.
“He’s a man that preaches basics , but when he comes in for training he trains a bit like a rock star at times.
“But he’s been great and he comes in with a great energy and urgency, and he’s big on high standards.”
Originally published as North Melbourne midfielder Dom Tyson set to put horror injury year behind him as he aims for 2020 revival
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