Third-year player Ben McKay says he can take a lot of positives from the 2018 season, despite not playing an AFL game.
McKay, who narrowed his focus on a defensive role at the start of the year, believes he took “big strides” towards breaking into the senior side.
“It’s a bit of a tricky one because on one hand you’re here to play AFL so it’s disappointing to not play a game, but on the other hand I feel like I went alright in the VFL,” he told North Media’s In Review podcast.
“Overall I was happy with the year.
“I think I took big strides towards cracking into the side and making a career out of this.”
The 20-year-old transitioned into a defensive role late in 2017, and has had no trouble adapting.
“(Being a defender) has been really enjoyable,” McKay said.
“I played the majority of my juniors down back, so it was almost second nature when we decided late last year to make the switch.
“At the time I was a little bit disappointed, but I was really happy to take it on board.
“I base my game around my marking, and as a defender, you’re almost not expected to mark it, so it’s a lot better when you do and you stand out a lot more.”
Being behind the likes of Scott Thompson, Robbie Tarrant and now Majak Daw has made opportunities for an AFL recall few and far between for McKay, but he fully understands the situation.
“It’s important to stay ready for when that opportunity comes because you don’t want to blow it, but it’s more a mental game,” he said.
“I want to get to that point where I’m forcing myself in, and I feel like I did this year.
“It was frustrating because you don’t want to be sitting in the VFL, but I could only control what I could control and that was to keep playing good footy and keep getting better.”
Driven to succeed, McKay is regularly at the club late at night or on his off days refining his craft.
“I didn’t come here to not make it,” he added.
“I’m doing everything in my power to make it, it’s my dream to not just play AFL, but be a really good player.”
Listen to Ben McKay's full 'In Review' podcast here:
