LEANING back in the grandstand at Cazalys Stadium watching his former teammates at the Manunda Hawks go around, Essendon defender Courtenay Dempsey cannot hide his itchy feet.

The 20-year-old has been battling his body since he was drafted to the Bombers in 2005 and has only eight senior games to show for his three years at the top level.

Natural footballers such as Dempsey find nothing harder than being on the sideline.

If his body, and contract, allowed such a thing, Dempsey would have happily pulled on his old Hawks guernsey on Saturday just to get the feel of being in a competitive match again.

Dempsey is at a loss to explain the plague of injuries that has stunted his career. The only beneficial thing the experience has taught him is the virtue of patience.

"It’s very frustrating especially with my hamstrings. I don’t know what’s gone on with them," Dempsey said.

"Nothing was going right with them for a while. Now I’ve got a fracture high up in my shin and I reckon I’ll be out for another four weeks with that.

It’s just so frustrating. I want to be out there playing.

"But I’ve just got to be patient and wait until I’m right again."

The Bombers faithful will be crossing the days off in the lead-up to the return of Dempsey, who is a key figure in a young line-up rebuilding in the post-Kevin Sheedy era.

Even though Dempsey’s game time has been limited, Bombers coach Matthew Knights has no doubts what the future holds for his young charge.

Knights praised Dempsey’s performances in the pre-season – compliments that have helped keep Dempsey positive during his prolonged injury struggle.

"It is really good. It lifts my spirits," Dempsey said.

"It makes me play better football and gives me confidence knowing the coach is behind me. I just want to get fit and get out there and do what’s best for him and the club.

"I only had him (Sheedy) for three years. I’ve been coached by Knights in reserve grade before and was quite used to his ways when he got to the club."

While Dempsey has not had any problems adjusting to Knights’ coaching style, the same cannot be said for the Melbourne winters.

Unlike his battles with injury, Dempsey is struggling to find the resolve to conquer the cold.

"I’m still not quite handling it," he said.

"I’m slowly getting there but I’m still a way off getting used to it."

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