Warrnambool footballer lighting up Blues' pre-season after ACL surgery

Graham is lighting up the Blues' pre-season only months after undergoing a knee reconstruction.

The 2018 Maskell Medal runner-up tore his anterior cruciate ligament in March while preparing for his first season with NEAFL outfit Redland.

Graham, who had to wait a number of months to undergo surgery, returned to Victoria after the diagnosis and is now aiming for a 2020 return in navy blue.

O'Brien said Graham's commitment to rehabilitation was holding him in good stead.

"He's made really good progress, he's ahead of where the surgeon expected him to be at this stage," he said.

"He hasn't joined in any ball work, so he's just doing straight-line running and the fitness elements of our pre-season."

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O'Brien said Graham - the younger brother of key forward Travis - had "put on a little bit of muscle".

The non-playing mentor, who is entering his third season at the Blues' helm, is excited about what Graham could bring to the team next season.

"He is planning on (playing) first round which would be a very good inclusion for us, a player of his quality," he said.

"Two years ago he was runner-up in the Maskell so he steps back into the elite midfielders.

"Plus he brings a bit of maturity and leadership to the squad as well."

Graham is setting the standard with his running capabilities on the training track.

O'Brien said it was a credit to his commitment.

"He is extremely diligent and he was actually doing a lot of work before the reco just to build the muscles up in and around it," he said.

"He went into the surgery with pretty good strength."

Graham's impending return is more important given Warrnambool is likely to lose Damien McCorkell for much of the season due to police academy commitments.

"It is a bit of a like-for-like - similar mature bodies who hunt their own footy," he said.

Warrnambool had 42 players to its opening pre-season session and is averaging up to 25.

O'Brien said two players - Austin Steere and Ben Fleming - had caught his eye.

"Aussie has stepped up another level with his running and Ben, who had a really tricky year last season with a terrible ankle injury and didn't get back until well after mid-year, is looking really solid as well," he said.

"He's been doing a lot work between the end of the last game and now."

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