The North Warrnambool Eagles 19-year-old export, who was the Cats’ first selection in the 2010 AFL Draft, is desperate to prove himself after he was sidelined for most of last year because of surgery to fix problems with his hips.

“The hips feel really good,” Smedts told AFL.com.au.

“I was a bit nervous when I got back into it as I wasn’t sure how they’d react to all the training, but all is well at the moment.”

The injury dramas were a rude shock for Smedts, who had hoped to make a big impression in his first season.

“It sucks to see my good mates Daniel Menzel (knee) and Nathan Vardy (hip) recovering from injuries now, but at least they’re getting to do it together.

“After I had my operation I did a lot of the rehab by myself. It got a bit lonely at times and I got a bit down in the dumps.

“But once I came out of the rehab group the boys were awesome. They were really welcoming.”

Smedts has enjoyed a marathon pre-season, as he started training with Geelong’s senior players during their successful finals campaign last September.

“It’s been a long pre-season, I guess,” Smedts said with a laugh.

“But I knew that a lot of my conditioning was always going to be up to me.

“The surgeon can only do so much. If I’m going to properly get over the hip problems then I have to put a lot of work in on the track and in the weights room.”

Smedts is desperate to be in the thick of the action for that first intra-club match.

“I suppose I’ll have to get eased into it because it’s like my first year again and I don’t want to break down again,” he said.

“But I just can’t wait to start playing.”