Dockers star forward hungry for return to big stageAN ENFORCED lay-off in 2008 has given Fremantle star forward Des Headland a fresh perspective of his place in football, and an even hungrier appetite to come back a better player.
Headland, the No.1 pick in the 1998 AFL national draft, started the season with a bang and in top shape but ended it with a whimper after copping an injury to his knee against Richmond in Round 4.
He managed just six games and could only look on as his team, touted as high finalists, stuttered through another season of disappointment, finishing third last.
Headland, 27, at training on Sunday said his workload, now a modified program, will most likely increase after the Christmas break. He said he is setting himself up for a big 2009 season and has one eye on the Indigenous All-Stars match in February.
"I've got plenty left in me," he said.
"Before I hurt my knee I was feeling the best I ever have and I'm looking forward to getting back to that and hopefully can have a big year. It might make me a bit hungrier now to do that."
Watching his team let another season slip was as frustrating as his own predicament.
"It's the first time I had missed that much of a season and it was a bit of an eye-opener," Headland said.
"I got to sit back and watch footy differently on the side to see how the boys played. Obviously it was disappointing to be missing out, but I'm now looking forward to next year.
"It definitely changes the way you think about football and as you get older you get more experience and wiser so it will be good for me."
Now one of the 'elders' at the club, Headland has set himself the goal of guiding Fremantle's latest Indigenous recruits, Stephen Hill and Michael Walters.
"I'm one of the older boys now so I want to make sure I'm showing them how to train hard, eat right and if they follow that they will be doing the right thing," Headland said.
"I pick 'Son-Son' (Walters) up every day on the way to training and Groves has Hilly, so they are going well as are the rest of the boys. They are bringing more confidence into the club and a lot of youth which is good for us.
"Hopefully they can be 12- to 15-year players like the guys that have left were."
DARREN MONCRIEFF
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Monday, December 8, 2008
Last Modified on 08/12/2008 15:27