My first year done and dusted. It’s actually unbelievable to think it.

The season has gone so fast in so many ways – it definitely ended a lot earlier than we hoped, there’s no shying away from that – but sometimes I have to stop and remind myself how lucky I am to be in this position to begin with.

If you had have asked me last November how I would have seen the next few months, I would have said that my chances of making my debut in 2022 would be a long shot at best. After a back injury in the pre-season, my goal was just to be playing footy at whatever level. At that point in time, debuting honestly would have been a bonus.

But with the help of our strength and conditioning team and physios, I got my body right slowly but surely. From there, I just wanted to build my confidence and have the belief to take the game on.

Eighteen games later, I’m pretty happy that I didn’t throw in the towel.

Getting on the rollercoaster

When Ratts gave me the nod before Round 4 against the Hawks, I was absolutely stoked, but far out was I nervous.

To start off with, it was my first game – that comes with its own nerves and pressure – but it was also against the side I barracked for and witnessed three Grand Finals from as a kid. Whether or not you’re someone who likes meeting their heroes or not, playing against them on the MCG is more than enough to get the butterflies fluttering.

Before I knew it, one game became two, then three, then four, and before I knew it my name was being put on Ratts’ whiteboard as a regular. The memories I’ve made in those first 18 games have been unbelievable.

My best memory was the first time we played Geelong in Round 9. That third quarter was the most electric and best feeling I’ve had playing footy. The excitement in the crowd was crazy and I really hope I get to play in so many more high-octane, insane games like that in red, white and black.

Much like how debuting was something that was really far off my radar at the start of the year, so was tagging. Going up against genuinely great players like Lachie Neale, Tim Kelly, Touk Miller is something I never would have even dreamed of doing ever, let alone in my first year.

You sort of feel way out of your depth when you’re lining up next to blokes who have Brownlow Medals, All-Australians and so many Best & Fairests to their name, and then there’s me who has less games to his name than years I’ve been alive. But like Ratts, Benny, Ladey and my other coaches have said, I’ve just got to back myself in.

It’s been a rollercoaster for sure, and there’s been plenty of areas I can improve on.

Cleanliness is everything 

One of the things I’ve worked on the most this year has been my cleanliness at ground level.

I’ve done a lot of work with Ben Jacobs on getting my skills up to scratch and seamless under pressure – a lot of times, we’re down in the basketball court with the nets getting that right – but even with the work that’s gone into it, there’s still a way to go.

Being clean in the AFL is so important and I reckon about 90 per cent of it comes more down to the mental side. If that’s not right, it doesn’t matter how many ground-balls you do or how long you spend practicing.

I certainly learned that after we played the Lions in Round 13.

That game was hands-down the worst I’ve felt after a game of footy. The result wasn’t great, we were battered and bruised by the end of it, and I was untidy when I did get my chances with the ball. It just proved to me how important being clean was.

I used that game as a bit of fuel and motivation to make sure I didn’t end a game feeling that disappointed in myself, and I reckon it will be a good reminder for me to have going into the seasons ahead.

It’s not too bad with your best mate

It was a dream come true to debut with Mitch. Hopefully he’s said something similar!

I’ve known him pretty much since prep and been in just about every footy and basketball team together, so we’ve been pretty inseparable growing up. He’s someone I can trust off the field and he’s someone I can definitely trust on it.

It was really cool to see him start playing some really good footy towards the end of the year. We played our first game together against the Roos and I was so rapt when he put through those two goals and was throwing himself left, right and centre into the contest.

When he’s up and about like that he plays his best footy, and I reckon we’re pretty similar in that regard. Hopefully we’ll be doing that side by side in the midfield next year and beyond.

Is it a bit early to start thinking about 2023? I don’t think so at all.

That’s what I’m focussed on right now, to be honest. Mitch, myself and a few of the other boys have been making an early start and getting some of the prep work in now so we can make some really good inroads at the start of pre-season.

It’s all about cracking in to get the best out of yourself, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.