The up-and-coming defender has been putting his best foot forward at training, with an AFL debut in his sights. Image: Isabel Gawel.

JAKE Pasini made a remarkable comeback to full-contact training earlier this month, just shy of nine months after rupturing his ACL. 

The defender has been putting his best foot forward on the training track, even playing a full game in last Friday’s internal trial.

The devastating injury came as Pasini was closing in on an AFL debut, but now the young defender’s confidence is building for Round 1.

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Jake Pasini press conference - 20 February | PTV

Jake Pasini speaks to the media at Alberton Oval

Pasini on his knee
“It's good, strong. I’ve done all the tests and had big ticks there so hopefully I’ll be ready for Round 1. I think I am (ahead of schedule). The high performance staff are pretty happy with where I am and all the tests came back good so I think I’m pretty ahead of where I should be. Got through training the last couple of months and (have been) feeling strong.”

Pasini on his rehabilitation
“I hit the gym pretty hard. I guess that’s only the real thing I could do so I’m pretty happy with my strength at the moment. There's still more I could work on but I’m happy with where I’m at.”

Jake Pasini used his time off the track to bulk up in the gym. Image: Isabel Gawel.

Pasini on Friday’s internal trial match
“Obviously the intraclub match was a bit scrappy. It's pretty hard (because) you know what each other's doing so today's messaging (before training) was just to work on what we know and what we do well.

“I was going in (to the internal trial) pretty timid with my ability but Kenny (Hinkley) had a chat to me and said he was very happy with how I was and I’m almost back to where I was before my knee so that's good to hear. The only thing I was worried about was just myself and my ability I was pretty happy with how I performed on the weekend.”

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Pasini on working toward his AFL debut
“I just need to continue on where I left off last year before my injury. I was pretty happy with how I was playing and so were the coaches so I need to get back to that form and do what I can to put my best foot forward. There’s good depth (in the side). We have very good key defenders with Aliir Aliir and Tom Jonas and Trent McKenzie, all those boys. Spots are up in the air, so it just depends how we go in the next few weeks.

“I’m working with Hamish Hartlett and Nathan Bassett down back and they're sort of telling me what I need to do. All I can really do is show (my best) on the training track and in the next few practice matches.”

Ten months on from surgery for a ruptured ACL, defender Jake Pasini is more determined than ever to make his highly anticipated AFL debut. Image: Isabel Gawel.

Pasini on matching up against Brynn Teakle/Scott Lycett
“They’re obviously tall timber. It's pretty hard versing two-metre blokes, but they work well. I’m not really sure what the rucks want to do this year but whoever’s out there, they will do the job.”

Pasini on his nickname, ‘Citrus’
“It actually happened in my first year. I was on camp up in Maroochydore and I think Ollie Wines went to grab a Gatorade and he was like ‘did you want a citrus flavour?’ and Jarrod Lienert was like ‘did you just call him Citrus?’ and that’s how it happened. A bit of an odd one but I guess that's how nicknames come about.”