Brent Macaffer revealed to CTV that he was “pretty close” to leaving Collingwood at the end of season 2011. But he’s very happy he didn’t.
The 23-year-old played a vital role in the Magpies’ 2010 premiership triumph, but endured a horror 2011 which had him questioning his future at Collingwood.
“In the end (I) probably did come pretty close to leaving and going to another club,” Macaffer said on day four of the altitude training camp in Arizona.
“By the end of the year I was pretty burnt out mentally, just injuries and form and that sort of stuff.”
The 187-centimetre Gippsland Power product, who is one of the many graduates of the rookie-list system at Collingwood, says it took some convincing from certain people at the club to make him decide to remain in black and white.
“It probably wasn’t ‘til I spoke to a few of the boys in Maxy (captain Nick Maxwell), Blairy’s (Jarryd Blair) one of my best mates at the club, and Bucks (coach Nathan Buckley) as well called me a few times, and they convinced me to stay on and they wanted me to be around.
“Looking back right now I’m so glad I did stay because I’ve made a lot of good friendships here and I’m really comfortable at the place. So I’m very happy with the decision I made to stay here.”
After 30 games since debuting in 2009, including 21 appearances in the flag-winning year of 2010, Macaffer says he is physically in the best shape of his career and is determined to re-establish himself as a permanent member of the Collingwood side.
“It’s definitely as fit as I’ve been. As soon as the off-season rolled around I got stuck straight into training. I wanted to come back fit and raring to go, so I’ve tried to drop a few kilos.
“I’ve done all the training sessions so far and I’m injury free, so that obviously makes a huge difference, so hopefully can stay that way.
“It’s a bit different to this time last year (in Arizona) when all I could do is walk around and sort of do a few little arm weights and that was it, so to be over here at this time of the year, in full training, I haven’t missed a session yet and I’m holding up pretty well, so it’s been great so far.
While explaining how tough 2011 was for him, Macaffer is looking ahead to what role he could fulfill in 2012, which may include time in the midfield.
“It (2011) was really tough, especially coming off 2010 when, for the club and myself, it was such a successful year. To sort of have a lot of downs, injury wise and also form wise I suppose, it was pretty difficult, so I’m pretty keen to wipe the slate clean and start again this year and hopefully things turn out a lot better.
“I’d love to slot back in there in that forward line, the role that I did play (in 2010). I was pretty comfortable and enjoyed playing that role.
“But having said that, at the moment I’m trying to really work on my fitness to be able to push up onto a wing, or pinch hit on the ball when guys like Swanny, Pendles and Daisy want to come down forward for a break.
“If I’m able to do that for a few minutes a quarter, that’s something I’d love to do.”
