After an explosive start to his AFL career, mature aged recruit Robbie Fox was hampered by injury as it cut short his first season at the Sydney Swans.

With impressive pre-season form and a number of injuries to senior players the rookie selection found his way into the senior team for a Round 2 debut against the Western Bulldogs.

Recruited as a half forward who could push through the midfield that is exactly the role he played in his first game at senior level.

Fox collected 13 disposals and looked calm and composed under pressure during his debut.

He would play the next two matches before a knee injury against West Coast in Round 4 would end his run of senior footy for 2017.

“I was pretty happy with my pre-season and was lucky enough to debut pretty early in the season and got three games,” Fox recalls.

“I played three games in the seniors, then had a bit of a knee injury but then I came back through the reserves and played some alright footy.”

It was mid way through the season in the NEAFL that the biggest blow came Fox’s way as he suffered a season ending ankle injury.

“I had goals that hopefully I could get back for NEAFL finals but then the closer the date got it was becoming less and less likely I was going to make it back,” he said.

Having shown glimpses of what he can deliver at AFL level the focus is on getting his body right in an attempt to have an uninterrupted run at the 2018 season.

 “The big picture is to get my body right for the pre-season and have a good crack next year so that is the positive,” Fox said.

“Just getting a taste of it for three weeks has given me something to base my footy on with the pre-season coming up.”

Fox will join his teammates first to fourth year teammates in returning to the training track for pre-season training on November 20.