Delisted Hawk Tom Phillips says he’s “still hungry” to play for a third AFL club, and is adamant he can find his best if given an opportunity.
Phillips was last month cut by Hawthorn, after just 26 games in two seasons – including just four this year before a serious injury cut short his campaign.
Speaking on AFL Trade Radio, Phillips said it was “upsetting” to not be able to get the “runs on the board” but that it has only built his resilience as the 26-year-old looks for another opportunity.
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“Anyone in that position, I was upset and disappointed of course,” Phillips said.
“I think looking past on my seasons previous to that, looking at this season alone, I wasn’t able to get the continuity and runs n the board this year playing consistent footy. I guess that is upsetting to reflect on.
“In saying that, it gave me a bit of an opportunity to have a look at being more mentally resilient and when you are injured and you can’t actually contribute on the field, it just forces you to look at how much more professional and how much more of a better athlete I can become.
“That has put me in a really good frame of mind at the moment to attack the next period and I’m still hungry for an opportunity. I’m very much in that mindset at the moment.”
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Phillips, who was spending time off over in Phoenix, said he would leave it up to his manager Alex McDonald to gauge any interest around the league.
“For me it’s what I can control, especially my body and my mind,” Phillips added.
“It’s been a different challenge for sure. Having to turn my attention to focusing on getting myself right in the rehab programs and building myself back up, obviously pretty unlucky situations when I did play.
“For me, it’s getting my body right. Get back to walking and it’s a slow process with a PCL, but I’ll be running in about three-and-a-half to four weeks which is awesome.”
A confident Phillips vowed the “hunger and fire is there” but also said he does have other options should his short-term future lie outside of the AFL.
“I’m super clear, looking back on what I have done and where my growth and improvement lies, as every footballer and athlete does,” Phillips said.
“I’m really bullish about getting back to my best football if given the opportunity. I’m in a really good frame of mind at the moment.
“I’ve always been able to do some part-time study on the side and have other different interests. I like to be well-balanced as a person so I’m sure there are different opportunities outside of the sporting landscape. I’ll look at those sort of things when they arrive.”
