Finally, after a horror year on the injury front, some light is starting to beam in that infamous long, dark tunnel for key Richmond defender Kelvin Moore.

The 27-year-old veteran of 84 AFL games has been sidelined all season with a severe hip complaint that, at one stage, even placed his long-term playing future under threat.

But, in a Fox Sports interview, which is currently showing on Richmond’s website, an upbeat Moore revealed how he had now turned the corner in his injury battle . . . 

“In the last six months, I’ve had four [hip] operations,” he said.

“I’ve got degenerative hips at the moment, where they’ve been wearing out, I suppose, quicker than the average hip.  So, it’s been a bit of bone on bone, just grinding away over the years. 

“It came to a head after Round 22 last year when I went in for some surgery and it didn’t come good.  I’ve been in and out of hospital ever since, really. 

“It’s been a long road, but I’m keen to go through the rehab. process and get back out there.  I had my last lot of surgery a week and a half ago, so I’m off crutches and now I’m ready to start my rehab. program. 

“I’ve been told that I will be able to come and play next year, so that’s some positive news that I haven’t had in a while . . . I’ve been trying to stay positive and I think if I can stay positive, then it will give me the best opportunity to come and play.”

Moore, who finished eighth in the Tigers’ Best and Fairest in 2010, has used his time away from the playing field this year to broaden his football horizons . . .

“I have had a role within the Club . . . I’ve been doing a bit of opposition analysis with Blair Hartley, going along to the games of our upcoming opposition, watching them, and trying to work out how they play,” he said. 

“I’ve also had a chat with some of the recruiting guys, and they’ve given me a bit of footage on some under-18 guys that we might be interested in.  Some of them are backmen, so they like to get my opinion on whether I think they’re any good or not.”