For the majority of the pre-season, Tim Membrey was restricted to non-contact drills, confined to a summer away from the main group, mending a shoulder that required a reconstruction last September. That body of work came to fruition on Saturday when the powerfully built key forward produced a career-best performance against Melbourne.

Membrey, 21, didn’t touch a ball in the pre-Christmas training phase as he churned out the kilometres on the periphery, improving his aerobic tank as his shoulder gradually regained its strength and range of movement.

He resumed training at the start of the New Year, albeit with a fluorescent cap on his head which signals ‘Do not touch’. And then finally, at the start of February, his rehabilitation program entered remission as he commenced full training. Another milestone ticked off.

At Etihad Stadium on the weekend, Membrey was dominant in his first senior game of the season, and in just his 14th overall, checking off the final milestone in his trek back from long-term injury.

The former Swan made a sizeable contribution against the Demons, booting 5.1 from 16 possessions and eight marks, as well as being involved in 12 scores. Given his previous best haul was only two goals, Membrey demonstrated the goal kicking prowess he was renowned for at TAC Cup and NEAFL level.

Monday Wash Up: Round 6 v Melbourne

With that high quality performance in the bank, a pre-season in solitude firmly in the rear vision mirror, Membrey reflected on the period since September last year and how the silver lining during a trying time was the opportunity it presented to boost his engine.

“I felt good. I think it’s coming off the back of a pre-season where I wasn’t able to do much contact work leading into the season, which had me out the back doing a lot of running,” Membrey told saints.com.au after St Kilda’s 39-point win.

“It was good to build up a bit of a tank. I’m moving across the ground a lot better now, so hopefully I can keep improving.

“I couldn’t do any tackling, any body work, that sort of stuff, which is a bit frustrating because you’re sort of away from the group for the majority of the pre-season.

“But it’s just one of those things you’ve got to put your head down and your bum up and get to work and once you’re able to get in with the main group you’ve got to just make the most of it and cop the knocks and cop the hits and get confident with it.”

Best youth contribution in my time says Richardson

The work of Membrey inside 50, alongside Nick Riewoldt and Josh Bruce in the offensive keys and Blake Acres, Jack Sinclair and Mav Weller at ground level led St Kilda to its highest score of the season, eclipsing the triple figure barrier for just the second time this season with 20.15 (135).

The longer the game wore on, the better he worked with Riewoldt and Bruce as the synergy between the trio improved, reducing the amount of times they trekked along the same patterns. Membrey praised the pair’s work rate, happy to slot in alongside the duo.

“Yeah I think it [synergy] was good. ‘Roo’s’ just a freak, he just finds space and gets on the end of so many receives. It was good to work with ‘Brucey’ as well, he’s a machine as well and starting to turn into an absolute star of the competition,” Membrey said.

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