'Spotty' returns for Waves

CHARISMATIC midfielder Tim Riseley will return for his beloved Across The Waves in tomorrow's qualifying final after missing the last two weeks with his second bout of chicken pox.

The 26-year-old lost about 7kg from his muscular frame and was hardly able to stand for more than five minutes when he was at his worst.

“I passed out in the shower one time; it was pretty rough stuff,” he said.

But Riseley, who has been one of Waves' best this season, says he will be able to perk up — chicken pox scars and all — and pilot the team past Hervey Bay Bombers and into another grand final.

“I started back training this week and felt okay. It will be a good test against Bombers but I think I'm ready.”

While the chickem pox can have serious effects if not contained and managed, Riseley hasn't received much sympathy from his teammates.

“They've been calling me poxy, spotty and all that; making chicken noises,” he laughed.

“Not much sympathy there.”

His coach is happy to have him back on the park for the crunch contest, rejoining fellow key players Brendan Murchie, Jareb Cowan and Shaun Stone in a core busting with experience.

“They are all unselfish, will do as they are asked and having them around the club definitely helps me out,” John Williams said.

“Their influence on the younger crop has been tremendous this year and they are all top blokes.”

Williams said Cowan had become a “spiritual leader” at the club while Riseley had proven his unselfish and versatile nature.

Murchie had grown into the perfect skipper, Williams said, and with the pressure off, the coach claimed it was the best season of footy former coach Shaun Stone had played.

With that in mind the camp is wreaking with confidence.

“It's nothing cocky. I think if we play to our best we should win. If we're on, it wouldn't matter who we play,” Williams said.

They have only lost once this year and have had the wood on the Bombers for most of the season.

But Brothers Bulldogs were in the same position last year and faultered, so Waves will be keen to prove they have the ticker to finish the job this season.