The former South Launceston premiership player and Western Storm ruckman-forward tore his anterior cruciate ligament in mid-2015 and took time away to fully recover.

Last weekend, McCulloch, 26, made his football return for North Launceston against Lauderdale and gave the Bombers’ onballers an edge through the middle.

“I was certainly very excited before round one… having a year off has certainly reinvigorated my enthusiasm,” McCulloch said.

“I was blowing a fair bit (last week), I found that my match fitness has still got a bit to improve but I enjoyed the camaraderie of it all.

“Throughout the year I’ll probably start forward and spend a fair bit of time through the ruck as well and just look to have an impact wherever the team needs me.” With his body in good shape the 198-centimetre tall will back it up at UTas Stadium on Saturday against Hobart City.

McCulloch said said he has 100 per cent confidence in his knee and is optimistic about what North can achieve.

“Fortunately I’ve felt really good throughout the whole rehab process and everything has progressed the way you’d hope it would, so I haven’t had too many issues worrying about,” he said.

“We’ve certainly got a good list... and we are still finding our feet but summing ourselves up against the other teams it looks like Glenorchy are going to be the ones to beat.

“But we’ll be thereabouts and I look forward to fighting it out in September.”