An injury-interrupted pre-season has done nothing to lessen Aaron Hall’s expectations for the 2014 premiership campaign, with the explosive small forward locked in on matching his 22 senior appearances from last season. 

The 23-year-old was a valuable contributor in front of the big sticks for the Gold Coast SUNS in 2013, averaging more than a goal a match including a career-best haul of five majors against Hawthorn on the big stage at the MCG in round nine. 

High on confidence, the exciting line breaker entered the pre-season ready to build on his breakthrough season, but was halted by a troublesome groin after the club’s annual high altitude trip to Arizona altered his 2014 preparations. 

Placed on a modified training program under the guidance of the club’s high performance team, Hall was limited to strength work and conditioning. 

But the forward line’s defensive hound made an immediate impact upon his return to the main training group, turning in strong performances in the club’s game simulations before notching solid match fitness through the NAB Challenge and practice match against Collinwood. 

“Obviously I’ve had an injury-interrupted pre-season, but I was able to use the NAB Challenge to get a bit of match fitness under my belt,” Hall told SUNS TV. 

“I felt fitter after each game and was able to compete for long so I’m confident I will be ready to go.”

Although restricted in his training workload, Hall says he is in as good a shape as ever and the small forward is expected to earn selection against Richmond this week. 

“It has been a tough and long pre-season, so the boys are just excited to get back round one,” he said.

“We can take real confidence out of our first half against Collingwood, knowing that we can take it up to the best teams in the competition.

“The boys are running well and it’s a good sign leading into our first match against the Tigers.”