Tom Berry will be looking to find consistency in his game for 2022 after one of the most unique seasons by any player in the competition.
Following the AFL’s introduction of the medical sub rule, Berry was named as the 23rd man eight times.
Only able to be activated when a player is no longer able to continue play due to injury or concussion, Berry would often be the subject to many late-night running sessions and early morning flights.
“With the new rule of medi-sub, I played that role a lot of times, 8 in total I think. I had to gear up to potentially play and often wouldn’t,” Berry said.
“So I’d run laps after the game which wasn’t the most fun thing in the world or I’d be back on the early flight home to play VFL the next day.”
But Berry maintained his optimism through the process and said being around the main group provided plenty of excitement.
“It was a challenging year with not necessarily knowing what I was going to do but it was exciting to be a part of the core group and bring plenty of energy within it.”
When activated as medi-sub, Berry was often thrown all over the ground to cover injury, but in the pre-season has been working primarily at his preferred role as a pressure forward.
“I played a fair bit of small forward in the AFL but in the VFL I’m more of a mid and play through the middle.
“I’m probably better in that small pressure forward role but would love to roll up the ground or onto the wing at some point.”
Looking to 2022, Berry says he’s just enjoying being back and has been working on his kicking game.
“It’s been great to get back with the boys, we’re getting stuck into it.”
“I just want to have a solid pre-season, I’ve dropped a bit of weight and bumped up my fitness.”
“I want to focus on my kicking and nail it down and make it a weapon for me.”
