MIDFIELDER Bernie Vince says he had a frustrating build-up to the 2015 season, after he underwent shoulder surgery last year and suffered two separate hamstring injuries in the pre-season.

Vince, who returned to the Melbourne side last round against GWS, after playing two practice matches in the VFL, said it was a situation he hadn’t experienced in his 152-game AFL career.

“I haven’t been in this position before. I’ve had little surgeries at the end of the season, but to have a full shoulder reco in September after the season finished held me up a bit,” he told Dee TV.

“In saying that, I was still up and running reasonably quick, so all through December I joined in the footy stuff and all the running – right through to the Christmas break.

“I trained really hard over the Christmas break and came back and ran a really good three-km time-trial and I thought ‘I’m back now’. I was doing a lot of the physical stuff and testing the shoulder out, and then unfortunately mid-January, I did a little hamstring [injury].

“It was only a really little one and during the season it would’ve been a three-week [injury], but I took the extra week. Then unfortunately I did it again – a little bit worse, but I took a careful approach the second time around, so that put me right back.”

Vince said his recent return via the VFL practice match series had helped him resume in the AFL last week.

“I played a half of VFL three weeks ago and then a full game the next week and then played [against] GWS on the weekend,” he said.

“It hasn’t been ideal my preparation, but my running from GPS numbers have been really good and I’m gaining some real confidence out of that, running wise.

“I just need to get out there and play footy – I was pretty disappointed with what I gave the team [last round], so I’m looking to respond, as well as the team, like a lot of other individuals this week.”