Fremantle ahead Sam Sturt has opened up about his worrying path in direction of triggering a one-year contract extension, and he hopes he can kick his sport up one other gear in 2024.
Sturt, the No.17 choose within the 2018 nationwide draft, entered this season needing to play 10 video games – excluding the Gather Round – to set off an extension for subsequent yr.
It loomed as an enormous job given he had solely performed 4 video games in his AFL profession up till that time.
But 2024 has turn into a breakout season for Sturt, who has notched 12 video games for the season and booted 16 objectives alongside the best way to lock in his short-term future.
Sturt’s current type has been significantly spectacular, with a three-goal haul towards the Brisbane Lions a fortnight in the past adopted up with 4 objectives in Saturday’s 101-point win over West Coast.
The 23-year-old stated he was “stoked” to set off a contract extension.
“I wanted an extra year,” Sturt instructed reporters on Monday.
“It is stressful. I got dropped halfway through the season, and I thought, ‘gee, I might not get there’.
“It was rewarding once I obtained there. The membership confirmed some nice assist in me this yr.
“I was fairly confident if I didn’t reach the number, they would have extended my contract anyway. Well, I hoped they would have.”
Sturt booted three objectives in his AFL debut towards Essendon in 2020.
But he missed many of the remainder of that season with a severe ankle damage, earlier than knee surgical procedure ruined his 2021 marketing campaign.
Injuries apart, a perceived lack of defensive effort within the ahead line has been an enormous knock on Sturt’s profession, however he has labored laborious to handle the problem.
“It was something he (coach Justin Longmuir) had spoken to me about,” Sturt stated.
“I knew it was something in my game I had to improve.”
Sturt’s diving deal with makes an attempt towards the Eagles final weekend highlighted his improved work ethic, and his accuracy over the previous fortnight in kicking 7.0 has additionally been an enormous plus.
The 190cm ahead is not content material with this season’s efforts, with Sturt eager to maintain enhancing.
“I feel like I’ve got another gear to give,” Sturt stated.
“Another pre-season and a full year next year will definitely do me the world of good.
“I’m on the stage now … that once I run on the market, I’m not operating on the market hoping to get a contact, I’m operating on the market hoping to have a huge impact on the sport.”
Fremantle (9-12) are already out of the finals race, however they are going to be aiming to complete the season strongly once they tackle Port Adelaide in Perth on Sunday and Hawthorn on the MCG subsequent week.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
