With concussion issues in the rearview mirror, promising Fremantle forward Sam Sturt is looking to impress new senior coach Justin Longmuir and push for an AFL debut.
The 17th overall pick in the 2018 NAB AFL Draft, Sturt's ambitions were put on hold last year when he suffered two concussions in quick succession that derailed the first half of his season.
The 19-year-old missed two months of football before playing the final nine games of the WAFL season, booting three goals, including the matchwinner, in Peel Thunder's win against Perth in round 20.
He received a head knock in a pre-season game against West Coast's WAFL team and another in the round three encounter with East Fremantle.
"Last year was fairly frustrating because I was injured quite a bit," Sturt told AFL.com.au.
"I took out work ethic, how to actually play senior footy and develop as an athlete, watching all the boys train and getting used to everything.
"I feel like this pre-season I've come in a little bit more prepared knowing what the expectations are and what it takes to get through a pre-season and get into games."
The 189cm forward - who arrived at the Dockers weighing just 72kg – is currently at 77kg and is aiming to add another three kilograms to reach his target weight of 80kg by the start of the season.
Holding his own physically against bigger and stronger defenders is his aim, but not at the expense of his two of his key weapons.
"I still want to be pretty quick and versatile, but having a bit bigger frame so I can deal with the bigger bodies," he said.
"I was tried in defence in a few pre-season games (last year), but it didn't suit me.
"I feel really natural playing up forward.
"It definitely works to my strengths … marking and my speed are strengths of mine, so it helps with that."
Sturt had a 91cm running vertical jump to lead all players at the 2018 AFL National Draft Combine, while he was in the top 10 in the 20m sprint (2.97 seconds) and agility test (8.4 seconds).
Those attributes are what saw the star junior cricketer quickly gain the attention of recruiters from a handful of games with the Dandenong Stingrays in the TAC Cup.
Sturt missed a month of training with a quad injury before the Christmas break, but has put that behind him.
He's aiming to use the Marsh Community Series to show Longmuir that he's ready for a senior debut.
"I think everyone's trying to push their case," he said.
"It's just about working hard, showing him what you've got and hopefully getting an opportunity.
"That's what I'm working towards this pre-season."
