Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands is confident he can still play a vital role in the club’s rebuild after re-signing for the 2019 AFL season.
Sandilands has managed just 26 games over the past three seasons because of calf, hamstring and rib injuries, but the 35-year-old says he still has the hunger to play on.
His signing comes on the back of new one-year deals for Hayden Ballantyne, Harley Bennell and David Mundy.
Fremantle’s rebuild has been brought into question following last week’s 133-point loss to Geelong, with the re-signing of veteran Ballantyne highly criticised following his four-disposal display.
But Sandilands said it was important to have some older heads around at the club, given the amount of list changes that have been made over the past two years.
“I think having such a big turnover with 22 new faces in two years, the experienced guys like David and Hayden, you really need those guys around to guide and teach,” Sandilands said.
“The young guys pick up a fair amount just from the way the senior players go about things so you need that balance of youth and experience.”
A calf injury has kept Sandilands sidelined since round 13, but he’s a chance to return for Saturday’s final-round clash with Collingwood at Optus Stadium.
The match will be Michael Johnson’s AFL farewell.
Danyle Pearce is also set to retire at season’s end while Lee Spurr has already hung up the boots because of a knee injury.
Sandilands turns 36 in December but the 265-game veteran feels he still has plenty more to give.
His new one-year deal might involve a coaching aspect where he could nurture the likes of Sean Darcy, Scott Jones, Lloyd Meek and Luke Strnadica.
“Obviously, the motivation is still there,” Sandilands said.
“I’ve had a bit of time to talk about it with the family and I know the love for the game and the footy club is also still there.
“I think it does definitely make the decision a lot easier.”
Fremantle have lost nine games this season by 50 points or more and the pressure is building on coach Ross Lyon.
But chief executive Steve Rosich has thrown his full support behind Lyon, who is contracted until the end of 2020.
