Being ready for the unexpected comes naturally to most AFL footballers but for some, the surprises come off the field, as Ben Speight recently found out.

With one year left on his contract, Speight was called in for a meeting with his manager and North’s list management team at the end of the season.

“They told me they still want me to train and they’ll keep my on the list, but I was demoted,” Speight explained to kangaroos.com.au.

Back on the Rookie list, Speight was lost for words.

“I’d been given a warning that it could happen.

“You’re a bit flat obviously…you can be picked up by another club so you’re uncertain about your future and where you’ll end up. You’re starting again and you just don’t want the club to blacklist you as ‘not going to play’.

“Hopefully I can just start again, start fresh and get back on the senior list and play more games.”

In 2011, the speedster enjoyed a breakout year playing eight games, mainly as a “super sub”. However a shoulder injury meant his season was cut short after round 17.

From that point, he struggled to overcome the injury and his pre-season fitness regime was significantly hampered.

“When I had the shoulder reconstruction I really battled and didn’t run for quite a while and it put me back a long way for last pre-season…I hardly did any of it.

“It killed my year I guess but I don’t want to use excuses and just have to stay positive. I’ve completed all the sessions at North so far and have to set myself up and give myself the best opportunity.”

Despite being guaranteed a spot on North’s rookie list, Speight knows he could end up anywhere.

“Another club could pick me now. They could’ve picked me in the National Draft, they can pick me in the Pre-season Draft or they could pick in the Rookie Draft before North does…it depends on how high North want to select me. They might want to run the risk and leave it until their last pick.

“I’m set-up now in Melbourne but I’d be prepared to move anywhere else and start my career over if that’s the case.

“I’m preparing to stay and North at the moment and I’m happy to. I’m confident I’ll be staying at North.”

The 22-year old remains upbeat, but can’t help but ponder what could have been had he not been injured. To help jump the hurdles that come with months of rehabilitation, he says he called on some team-mates to help.

“Hamish (McIntosh) and Narny (Nathan Grima), some of the boys who have had their fair share of injuries and have been in rehab a fair bit always got around me when I was injured.”

Now that’s he’s fully recovered, he still searching for the right advice.

“I’ve tried to work closely with Wellsy (Daniel Wells) and Boomer (Brent Harvey), who play the same sort of position, and Patch (Leigh Adams) is always there to chip in and help me improve and get better. I’ve just got to keep hanging around those guys and learn as much off them as possible.

“I just want to get back to where I was before the shoulder. I need to build my fitness and strength back up as well as my contested footy. I have to keep my feet because I lost my feet in the contest a few times last year in the VFL and it cost me.

“I definitely think when I get back to playing my best footy I can give a lot to the AFL team, like I did before I hurt my shoulder. I’d probably still be in there if I didn’t injure myself.”