SAM Weideman says it feels “pretty special” to be back in the side and on the cusp of playing finals, after featuring in just one match from rounds nine to 21.

Weideman replaced the injured Jesse Hogan for Melbourne’s clash against West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium in round 22 and impressed in that outstanding win. He backed it up again last Sunday against GWS Giants at the MCG and now he’s set to be part of Melbourne’s finals team.

But it’s something he didn’t expect earlier this month.

“A few weeks ago I probably wasn’t picking this happening,” he told Inside Melbourne.

“With Jesse going down [through injury], I think the opportunity came up and I really wanted to grab that with both hands.

“I feel like I’ve put my foot forward and made a case to play in a final, so I’m really pinching myself at this stage, and I just can’t wait to line-up – it’s going to be awesome.”

Weideman said he felt for Hogan, who played 20 matches and kicked 47 goals before his season end, due to a foot injury. But he was determined to make the most of his return in the absence of Hogan.

“With Jesse going down, I was pretty shattered for him and I think we all were. He’s such an important player for us and you never want to see someone go down with an injury like that, so I do wish Jesse all the best,” he said.

“But in saying that, there was an opportunity that did fall in my lap. I’ve been putting work in the VFL and I think that the coaches are always saying that an opportunity could come up at any stage.

“I was lucky enough to get that and take a hold of it, so hopefully I can keep that going and launch into a finals series – it’d be very nice.”

Although Weideman said he felt expectations, he said the backing of coach Simon Goodwin had helped him.  

“There is a little bit of pressure because he (Hogan) is such a fantastic player,” he said.

“So, it’s a bit of a role to fill, but I think I’ve just got to come in and play my role. That’s what Goody (Simon Goodwin) said to me ‘you don’t have to do anything special – you’ve just got to play your role for the team and work with Tommy [McDonald]’.

“Tommy is fantastic and he’s had a fantastic year, and he’s helped me immensely down there. It’s just made it a lot easier for me, so I’ve got a specific role to play and I feel like I’ve been performing that quite well so far.”

Weideman couldn’t speak highly enough of the work Jade Rawlings (Casey Demons senior coach), Matt Egan (head of player development) and “all of the coaches” at Casey had done to help his game this year.

“They make you perform at a level that’s required at the AFL as well,” he said.

“They put a lot of work into me and they just make it such an enjoyable environment down there – and we were flying down there [at Casey] as we’d won 12 on the trot.

“It’s just such a great environment to be around and they just make it so much easier to go into the AFL system, and make it as smooth as transition as possible. They’ve made it easier.”

Listen to the full episode of Inside Melbourne here.