Twelve weeks after removing the titanium rod from his surgically-repaired leg, Nathan Bock is setting new personal benchmarks on the athletics track, and for the first time, running pain-free.

“I had the rod removed from my leg two weeks after the season, and have done four weeks of running so far and feeling better with each session,” Bock says.

“It’s the best running I’ve done in a while. It’s good to be running around pain-free.’

Severing his leg in a horrific collision against Fremantle in 2012, Bock’s AFL career was in limbo, the 30-year-old Gold Coaster requiring a rod from his knee to ankle – held in place by two cross bolts to ensure it stopped full vertical movement.

Treading the long and painful path to full recovery, Bock chipped away tireless in the weights room, massage table and football oval to speed-up his rehabilitation program.

Defying the odds stacked against him, the GC SUNS Vice-Captain made his long-awaited return through the NEAFL, rallying seven appearances in the feeder competition, before lacing up the boots on the eleventh hour to replace Andrew Boston in Round 19 against West Coast at Patersons Stadium.

A polished ten disposals, five marks and two goals in three quarters of action – Bock reminded AFL fans across the country of his brute strength and strong lead-up marks. 

Similar to his teammates, the 2008 All Australian says he’s feeling the full effects of training at altitude at the 2XU High Performance Camp in Arizona.

“Yeah up at altitude always makes the running sessions a lot tougher,” Bock said.

“I’ve definitely been feeling the pinch over here, but it is great for the conditioning in the legs and running pain-free helps as a bonus.”