DREAM RETURN A POSSIBLITY FOR BIG FALCON

THE stars could be aligning for West Perth ruckman Seva Mozhaev to make his return to the league side this Saturday for the International Football Festival against his old team Subiaco, but coach Bill Monaghan still has a bit to weigh up first.

Mozhaev, then going by the surname Martin, last played in West Perth's league side in 2014 when he cemented a place in the team for the second half of the year before fate dealt him a cruel blow with a knee injury that required a full reconstruction.

He worked hard to be fit late in the 2015 season but ultimately had to wait until the start of 2016 to make his official return.

After two strong performances in the reserves for the Falcons to open the new season, he's right in the mix to play on Saturday.

Following 61 hit outs in the reserves on Saturday against Perth, Mozhaev naturally put himself right in the mix to play.

His hopes would likely be just about 100 per cent if No. 1 ruckman Chris Keunen doesn’t recover in time from a knee injury of his own.

Mozhaev making his return for the International clash on Saturday would be fitting given he was born in Russia.

Then adding that it is against his former team against Subiaco and Monaghan could hardly have come up with a more perfect scenario for the big man to make his comeback, but nothing is quite guaranteed just yet about his place in the side for Saturday's grand final rematch at HBF Arena.

"Sev's been probably a little unlucky not to play both weeks. This week he could have nearly come in but the weather probably didn’t help. We think Mark Hamilton who didn’t help probably lost his spot due to the weather conditions too so he can easily come in," Monaghan said.

"We had to look at the opposition and how many talls they have, but Tyler was very good in the ruck and we have Nick Rodda. But if Chris doesn’t play, I would suggest Sev will start in the ruck but we have some other options around that as well."

The fairytale nature of Mozhaev making his comeback hasn’t been lost on him either and he has put his case forward to Monaghan, but the fact remains if Keunen isn’t there he is a near certainty, and if Keunen is then plenty of other factors will need to be considered before the final cal.

"It was funny, I mentioned to him on Thursday that the weather wasn’t helping him and he told me that we will need two ruckmen against Subiaco so he's already into me," Monaghan said.

"He is pretty keen to play but we will make some choices based on the opposition, the weather and how we think we might be able to combat Subiaco's strengths and try to expose the very few weaknesses they've got.

"If that means Sev plays he plays, and if we don’t think it will help us then he won't play. But if Chris doesn't play you would bet that Seva would play."

As for Mozhaev, he was born in Krasnoyarsk, Russia before he and his family migrated to Australia in 1997.

His story ahead of the International Football Festival is a glowing example of how someone from any background can not only pick up the game, but can grow to love it and that's certainly the case with Mozhaev.

And he also has no doubt that his work as a personal trainer while earning his Bachelor of Secondary Education for Physical Education and Science at ECU is helping make sure his big frame is ready for the rigors of the game.

"I had a year off from football in 2015 due to an ACL reconstruction and that opened my eyes up to how much movement was important to not just me, but for everyone," Mozhaev said.

"Being 6'10" I find a lot of guys similar to my height and build struggle with movement.

"Sport and training in general have kept my body in shape to be able to handle the stress of being a taller human being. I am grateful to have the opportunity and the ability to keep myself fit so that later in life I am still moving well."