Luke Russell is already making sacrifices which he hopes will reap rewards during season 2014.

The Gold Coast SUNS star has undergone surgery on two occasions since the end of the season and is now in rehabilitation at a time when many of his team mates have been letting their hair down and enjoying overseas holidays. 

“Mines been pretty quiet mate, obviously I had surgery the first week out of the season finishing for us and so I had that done and I have been in Tassie just resting up and started my rehab down there so it’s been pretty quiet.”

“I had my labrum re-attached to my hip bone and my hips were shaved as well, just a tidy up, but I think it’s pretty common these days.”

Russell who has played 43 games for the Gold Coast SUNS decided against managing his hip condition and nursing himself through the 2014 campaign, preferring instead to  give himself every opportunity to make his next best since joining the AFL.

“I’ve decided to do it and make sure I can come back  have no issues next year at all and nothing hanging over my head with my hips and stuff, I want to make sure I get them stronger over the pre-season and start next year on a good note with no injuries.”

“My hips started to slow me down towards the end of the year, they got stiffer and stiffer and that started affecting my groin muscles and flexibility, it’s never been great anyway but it’s something you really need.”

“The coaches, I spoke to them at the end of the year and they want to see me put on some size, they are happy with my running ability and stuff, so I don’t think fitness will be an issue for me, I can ramp it up in a few weeks and hopefully get my fitness back.”

Luke will undergo a modified training program when the team heads off on their annual three week high altitude training camp in Arizona on November 10, saying the work done in America will set the tone for a season where playing finals footy is the goal.  

“I think finals is definitely our goal this year, but in saying that every team are just going to be improving from this year. We had eight wins last year and we want to look at getting more wins this year, but no wins will be easy at all we have to come back to pre-season with the right mindset and put that year behind us now, this is a new year, every club is starting with no wins and  so we have to go out there and train our hardest and everyone has to get better individually as well for us to make finals next year so it wont be easy, but everyone is up for the challenge.”

“Every preseason just gets bigger and bigger the boys get older, bodies mature more so we can endure more running and I think the boys are in for a real tough one.”

Versatility has certainly been the key to Luke's success during his time with the SUNS, and while he is prepared to play wherever he’s required, he’s certainly working towards holding down a permanent spot in 2014.

 “It’s been my most consistent year I think, obviously the first year was pretty tough for everyone involved in the SUNS, it was a tough year.  I was lucky to play eleven games and I managed to play 14 last year went into the pre-season fit and no injuries at all and  managed to play fourteen and this year eighteen so it’s hopefully growing and there are signs that each year is getting better but yeah I am focused on having an even better year next year.”