Being part of one of the youngest lists in the AFL has its perks and for Oscar Junker, it means making his debut could be closer than ever before.
“I see it as an opportunity, and if I give it a shot I don’t see why I can’t establish myself in the side if there’s a role for me to play in the team,” Junker told NMFC.com.au.
“It feels like there are spots open for anyone on the list.”
Junker says he isn’t the only one with high hopes and expectations ahead of the upcoming season.
“Utah was a really good trip for the group,” he said.
“The training had some of the best energy I’ve experienced in a group environment. If someone did something well, the others got around them. Even if you did something wrong, the group was supportive.
“The camaraderie really grew.”
It is easy to understand why Junker relished the opportunity to reunite with the main group overseas. Soon after joining North at the end of 2016 as a rookie, he broke tibia in pre-season training.
“As negative as the year felt injury-wise, you have to focus on the positives of being in an AFL club environment. You get fitter, you get stronger, and even though I didn’t play much footy at all, I am now as fit and strong as I’ve ever been,” he said.
“Having that broken leg gave me the opportunity to improve my upper body strength.”
The gains in strength were not just physical.
“I definitely think last year helped build my resolve and character,” he said.
“I was in the gym at 7:30 each morning doing cross-training or rehab, so all of that hard work has helped build that.”
However he admits there were times when the monotony got the better of him.
“About half-way through the year it started to become a bit of a grind, but the club was really good and gave me a couple of weekends off to refresh my body and mind,” he admitted.
Unable to play or train, Junker looked to gain some valuable insights.
“I learned a lot throughout the year just watching and sitting in on reviews with the older boys and fed off what they were trying to learn,” he said.
And it wasn’t just the taller, key position players he sat with.
“I’m trying to learn the midfield craft too,” he revealed.
“If I can learn as much as I can about stoppage scenarios and all of that, then I might be able to develop the capability to play inside too.
“But for the immediate future, I see myself as a half-forward, or third tall forward, similar to Waitey [Jarrad Waite] and Woody [Mason Wood]. I’d like to play as a forward but be able to be versatile and go out to the wing or to half-back if I’m needed there.”
