WHAT a difference 12 months has made for Geelong midfielder Steven Motlop. 

This time last year he was in the rehabilitation group after travelling to London for an operation to clear up a bout of knee tendonitis. 

However, there have been so such problems this time around. 

Motlop, who turns 24 next month, is fit and firing and gearing up for what he hopes will be his best season yet. 

"It's obviously different for me this year," Motlop told geelongcats.com.au. "I'm completing a lot of sessions this time.

"I'm a lot fitter this time, so it's good for me to have that base now.

"I'm really confident. I'm lifting some of the heaviest weights I've lifted in my legs, so it means my knee are getting stronger.

"As well, I've been doing a lot more running, so I'm getting fitter as well at the same time."

Motlop's workload was closely managed through the early part of the pre-season.

But the Cats' coaches have been very impressed by his recent performances on the track.

"He trained on Wednesday in full competitive training," midfield coach Matthew Knights said. "That was really pleasing for everyone to see him do virtually the whole session.

"That was a pretty big step forward for him. We're looking for him to go from strength to strength now.

"It's been a measured in the pre-season in the sense that he had to get some kilometres in his legs before he was able to compete in the football sessions.

"But he's done that, and he trained in that full session on Wednesday and pulled up really well from it."

To watch the FULL video interview with 'Mots' click the player above..