Simply put, 2015 didn’t go according to plan for Tom Curren. After playing 16 games the previous year, the big-bodied midfielder managed only two senior games in the first half of the season before breaking his leg in an innocuous incident in the VFL. It wasn’t his year.

But after returning amid a finals campaign for Sandringham, Curren played two games in September, to alleviate any lingering demons long-term injuries can hold and generate some momentum heading into what looms as a crucial 2016 for the 23-year-old.

With the frustration of a wasted season firmly in the rear vision mirror now, the consummate professional has woven together session after session all summer to have himself as well prepared as possible to bounce back this season.

“Obviously no one likes to be missing games of footy and sitting on the sidelines, so it was frustrating but there’s nothing you can do,” Curren told afl.com.au’s program First Bounce on Thursday night.

“It was good that I was able to come back and play a couple of games at the Sandringham finals last season so it sort of gave me a lot of confidence going into the off-season and then further into the pre-season that I was right to go. So that was a good thing to tick off prior to breaking up last year.

“It feels as though I haven’t even broken the leg at all because this pre-season I haven’t missed anything.

“So that was one of my goals at the start of pre-season – just to put myself out on the park as often as possible. I’ve done that, and I’m feeling quite fit so I’m just ready to attack this year and put last year behind me.

In St Kilda’s opening NAB Challenge clash against North Melbourne last weekend, Curren was one of the Saints prime movers. Opposed to a midfield bursting with class and experience, the former rookie put his hand up for a spot in Alan Richardson’s Round 1 side by collecting 18 disposals to lead a young onball division.

Curren has trained with the forwards throughout the pre-season as he eyes a role as a high half-forward this year. Despite the foray into attack, the Dandenong Stingrays product still enjoys spending time around the ball, but knows he must be able to play multiple roles this season if he is to become a regular member of the Saints best 22.

“I spent a lot of this pre-season up forward. I did a lot of stuff working on that high half-forward role. That obviously requires a lot of pressure and being able to get up and back on the field,” Curren said.

“So originally I just wanted to come back in good shape and be able to work up and back – I’ve ticked that off.

“The couple of (internal) practice games we’ve played and the NAB Challenge game against North on the weekend, I was able to go into the midfield as well.

“That’s somewhere I really like playing; I enjoy being in the thick of it so I think there will be a bit of a balance between playing in the midfield and up forward.”

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