MIDFIELDER Dom Tyson says he’s optimistic he will right to play in Melbourne’s season opener against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, March 25.

Tyson made his comeback from a knee injury, sustained in a pre-Christmas camp, against West Coast Eagles at Domain Stadium on Thursday night. He said he was likely to play in a Casey practice match next week, before aiming for round one.

“I’m hopeful [of playing against St Kilda]. They’re an impressive outfit at Etihad [Stadium],” he told Melbourne TV.

“I’ve have to have a few chats with coaches – we’ll review this game and then get through the Casey game and see how we go there.

“I’m hopeful, without writing my name in pen just yet. It’s a pretty impressive side we’ll be dishing out in round one, so I’ve got to reassess after next week’s game.”

Although Tyson said West Coast was “too polished” in the end – the Eagles won by 25 points – he said it was “onwards and upwards” for his side and he was simply pleased to get through his first hit-out for the year.

“It was good to be back out there. I was pretty rusty and didn’t kick it too well, but I got my hands on it enough and I played to the system that we’d been training over the pre-season,” he said.

“It was good to get the miles in the legs and individually I’ll probably look to play the Casey praccie match next week and reassess after that.

“It was good to get back travelling with the main group – it’s hard watching even JLT games, when you’re not involved, but the boys have been going really well. It was exciting to get back in the mix.”

Tyson said he didn’t have any issues with his knee, as he went about collecting 24 disposals in his return game.

“The positive was that I didn’t really feel my knee out there at all. I felt physically fine – a bit of touch and composure with the footy will come,” he said.

“We’ve got Daniel Cross in the rehab team and he’s getting the blokes up in top shape, so credit to the rehab and physio staff for getting me back into a position to be in the mix for round one. There is never a good time to have an injury, but given it was the pre-season, I had a few weeks to play with.

“You’ve got to bide your time and stay positive and stay involved as best you can and get yourself into the position to impact the side.

“I was back running in two or three weeks, but I definitely won’t become a military camp instructor, I’ll leave that to other people.