Golden Square star Jack Geary is confident he'll be right to play round one despite undergoing surgery on a broken arm last week.
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The 2018 Michelsen Medal winner suffered the injury during a training drill at a Bulldogs' pre-season session.
"The operation went well and, hopefully, I'll be ready to play round one,'' Geary said on Monday.
"It's frustrating because it (the injury) happened in a tackle that you'd go through 50 times a week at training.
"I was tackled, I fell awkwardly and someone fell over the top of me. It was just one of those things."
It's the first time Geary has suffered a broken bone in his arm.
While he's likely to be fit for the Bulldogs' season-opener against Kangaroo Flat on April 10, the injury has probably put paid to his chances of playing in the upcoming Northern Territory Football League finals series.
"There's never a good time for injuries, but it's better that this happened now instead of six weeks time,'' Geary said.
"Hopefully it heals well and I'm ready to play against Kangaroo Flat."
Read more: Catch up on all the latest local footy news
For most of the recent Golden Square-Kangaroo Flat encounters Geary had Kangaroo Flat tagger Ross Turner for company.
That won't be the case in round one this year, with Turner becoming the latest former Roo to join Loddon Valley Football Netball League reigning premier Mitiamo.
After more than 100 senior games for the Roos, the durable Turner will add depth and flexibility to the Superoos' midfield and/or defence.
Former Kangaroo Flat playing coach Corey Greer and Turner join 2019 Mitiamo premiership players - Tyrone Downie, Billy White, Justin Maddern, Luke Lougoon, Dylan Clohesy, Ash Benbow, Tim Brooks and Jarryd Wiegard - as ex-Flat players on the Superoo list.
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