Beau Maister is fighting to get back playing footy for the Claremont Football Club, after finding himself in the fight of his life at the end of last year.

Just weeks after announcing he’d be returning to Tigerland in 2015, the 28 year old was struck down with golden staph. Doctors were unable to pinpoint whether he’d contracted the potentially deadly infection from any of the three surgeries he’d had over the previous six months.

“It was pretty intense. I was in hospital for about 10 days, then bedridden for another four weeks on an antibiotic pump. It can be quite fatal as I’ve found out, so I’m lucky to get out of it fairly unscathed”

 “I’ve never really had 10 out of 10 pain throughout my career, but just before I went to emergency on a Sunday morning at 3am...that’s the first time I’ve had 10 out of 10 pain.”

The utility is no stranger to setbacks, having seen his AFL career cruelly hampered by hamstring, shoulder and wrist injuries across the six seasons at West Coast and St Kilda.

The 2011 Simpson medallist says his focus now is getting back on track as a Tiger.  “I’m just happy to be walking around at the moment. If I can get back playing football this year it’d be great, but that’s still a long way off.”

 “The group is young and there is an element of frustration there because I can’t get to know the guys on the track like I’d like to. But that will come in due course”

Despite his personal struggles, Maister says 2015 is looking bright for Claremont, with the likes of Ian Richardson and Tom Swift also back at the club.

“It’ll be good to see them all in Tigers jumpers. You add that with the young group we’ve got and hopefully that’s a good nucleus for some finals time this year”

The Tigers open their campaign against reigning champion Subiaco at Medibank Stadium on March 21.