Defender Andy Otten says he’s regaining confidence in his body and his ability as he continues to strive for a fairytale return to Adelaide’s AFL team.
Otten, 26, had minor knee surgery last December which saw the 2009 Rising Star runner-up sidelined for all of Adelaide’s NAB Challenge campaign.
Despite an interrupted summer, Otten has been one of Adelaide’s standout performers throughout the Club’s undefeated start to the SANFL season.
The versatile tall is averaging 19 disposals at 80 per cent efficiency, and is ranked equal-fourth in the League for total marks after five rounds. Otten’s strength, guidance and calmness under pressure has also been noted by Crows coaches and many of his younger teammates.
Otten said he was beginning to feel confident about his footy once again.
“Today was my fourth game back and I think the fitness is starting to feel really good,” he said after Adelaide’s 30-point SANFL win over Glenelg.
“I felt like I was really running on top of the ground. It’s a bit different with the smaller rotations too at SANFL level, as you’ve got to really run it out. But I think that’s helping build the whole team’s fitness up.
“I think I’m getting closer to being able to come back and put my hand up for AFL action.”
Otten hasn’t played at senior level since suffering his second ruptured ACL in Round 20, 2014.
Much has changed during his time out of the AFL ranks. Several players, including Jake Lever and Kyle Cheney, have joined the Club, while others, such as Rory Laird and Kyle Hartigan, have made their own mark in Adelaide’s back six.
Otten said he’s willing to continue putting in the hard yards to put his name back in front of selectors.
“A lot of it is about timing,” he said.
“My form’s building and my confidence is growing, but at the same time I’ve got to be patient.
“The boys are playing really well in the AFL and I’ve been around long enough to know that you don’t mess with a winning side. I’ve just got to be patient, and keep performing well so then if I do come up, I’m able to perform at a good level.”
Otten once again played a key role in Adelaide’s fourth-straight win in the SANFL on Sunday. He collected 26 possessions - the most he’s had at any level in just over three years - as a rebounding backman along with eight marks and three rebound 50ms.
Otten formed a strong partnership across half-back with fellow comeback Crow Ricky Henderson, who was Adelaide’s leading ball-winner on the ground with 31 possessions.
See all the SANFL Stats for Round Five
Adelaide kicked away late with four of the last five goals of the match to put away the Tigers after what was a willing battle all afternoon. The final 30-point margin wasn’t a true reflection of the closeness of the contest.
“It was a great win by the boys in a tough game for us,” Otten said.
“Glenelg really brought it to us. Over the course of the game, the little things added up and in the last quarter we were able to get away from them a bit.
“We back ourselves in with our fitness and ball movement to finish off games strongly. It’s a trend from the last few games that we’ve been able to run over the top of teams and that was true again today.
“It’s a positive for us and we’ll take that confidence into the next few games.”
Adelaide confronts Otten’s former SANFL club South Adelaide at Hickinbotham Oval on Sunday afternoon.
