Carlton rookie Andrew Gallucci made a successful return from a 12-month injury layoff for the Northern Blues yesterday morning.

The speedster was a shining light in Northern’s 23-point win, kicking three goals and showing no ill effects of the shoulder injury which has kept him out of action for nearly a year.

After a long stint on the sidelines, Gallucci said he loved being back in the thick of the action.

“It’s brilliant to be back, it was nearly 12 months since my last game — I was a bit rusty early but it was great to be out there and get around the boys,” Gallucci said.

“The shoulder’s great, I was taking bumps and getting marks and I’m getting confidence in it all the time.”

Kicking his side’s first goal of the game admittedly provided a boost for Gallucci, who went on to kick two more and have a hand in a number of attacking forays.

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“I think [the goal] did help. I had the ball early and messed up a kick, but then to get a goal and get the confidence up was good,” Gallucci said.

Having waited just shy of a year (his last game was on April 30, 2016) to play again, Gallucci and the Blues will go again this Saturday in the VFL season opener against Port Melbourne.

The fit-again forward said the short turnaround would provide no issues, and he was out to get continuity in his football once again.

“I’ve done a lot of running over the pre-season so my body is ready to go… there’s no issues with the six-day break, I’m ready to get out there and play,” Gallucci said.

“It’s a huge challenge next week. Port has been a great VFL side for the last 10 years and it’ll be a really good test.”
 

Northern Blues senior coach Josh Fraser was high in his praise for Gallucci, saying he exceeded any expectations heading into the game.

“He was enormous, not that you ever put a ceiling on what a player can produce,” Fraser said.

“The way he approached his game was outstanding, he had a really strong focus on bringing that pressure which we know he’s elite at.

“He was great along with Liam Sumner, who probably played his best game of pre-season, then Zac Fisher, Cam Polson, Sam Fowler in our front half… our smalls are very exciting.”

The Blues head to North Port Oval from 2pm on Saturday to open the VFL home-and-away season.