656 days will have passed since Marty Gleeson’s most recent senior game when he heads out for the Bombers to take on Greater Western Sydney at Marvel Stadium on Thursday.

A serious ankle injury in the JLT Community Series against Geelong had the versatile defender’s 2018 season in tatters, but coach John Worsfold says Gleeson has never faulted in his patient journey back to the AFL.

“It’s brilliant. Marty had a really severe injury in the pre-season going into 2018, which kept him out of the whole year, and it’s taken a while to get him back where he’s moving freely and ready for AFL footy,” Worsfold said on Wednesday.

“His attitude has been brilliant all the way along, so everyone’s really pleased for him to see him back out there.”

Gleeson is carried from the field in Colac after suffering the season-ending injury. (Image: AFL Photos)

Gleeson had been one of the club’s most reliable players before suffering the brutal blow in March last year, claiming 25 disposals and four rebound 50s in his most recent game in the 2017 elimination final loss to Sydney.

Worsfold said Gleeson’s teammates have been equally impressed by his commitment to break back into the team.

“(His teammates) were just excited for him. He hasn’t complained, he’s just kept knuckling down and doing the work all the way along. 

“I would guess that most players would have thought it’s only a matter of time before he works his way back into the line-up and they’re all really pleased for him.”

Gleeson will replace young Bomber Matt Guelfi on Thursday, with the emerging Don unable to fully recover from a significant knock against West Coast last week.

Guelfi was aggressively shoved into the boundary fence against the Eagles, suffering concussion and bruised ribs, but Worsfold said the 21-year-old was close to passing all of his fitness tests this week.

“It was really only in our last session that he wasn’t quite right.

“He passed all of his concussion tests so that was all fine, it was more the injury he had to his upper back (rib cage) that wasn’t strong enough really to say he could get through a game.”

The Bombers disappointed against the reigning premier, with a significant second-quarter lapse proving particularly damaging in the 35-point loss.

Worsfold said it is crucial for his side to learn from that poor patch ahead of another huge challenge against the Giants, who currently sit comfortably within the top four.

“(The Giants) are a very good team, so we know we’re coming up against a side that is playing really good footy and they’re basically in the peak of their powers at the moment with the way they’ve been bringing their squad along for a number of years.

“That’s exciting for us and we’re ready to step out.

“We had a really disappointing second quarter against West Coast last week and we want to make sure that we learn from that and continue to play the style of footy we’re trying to play more consistently. 

“That’s our big focus; keep sticking to what we know is going to work for us, get better at it and challenge these really good teams.”

The massive test will begin at 7:20pm on Thursday.

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