After playing seven of the first twelve games at AFL level, Nathan Hrovat said he learnt a lot about himself and his game while playing out the 2015 season with Footscray.

After a standout pre-season, Hrovat was selected in the senior side between rounds three and six, and again between rounds nine and twelve, before losing his place in the side following the Club’s 72-point win over Brisbane.

Hrovat told Michael Christian and Mick McGuane on RSN Breakfast Radio that as a young footballer there’s always elements of your game that you can improve on, but there’s more to it than a simple skill deficit.

“I guess just the resilience of going back and taking the omission on the chin,” he said.

“[And then] focusing on the next game and trying to perform well in every game.

“That was probably the major lesson that I took out of last year.”

According to Champion Data, Hrovat excelled at VFL level,  rating elite for ranking points, disposals and clearances per game, and above average for intercept possessions, goals, score involvements and score assists per game. 

He was rewarded with a second place finish in Footscray’s best and fairest voting.

Hrovat was positive about his 2015, saying that the competition for spots at the kennel was fierce, something that can only be good for a young and developing side.   

As for what 2016 holds, Hrovat is just focusing on what he can control.

“First of all, [I wanted to] tick off pre-season, which I’ve done so far this year, and apart from that, just trying to tackle every session as it comes, not worry too much about the future, and just put my best foot forward and have a crack every session that I can.”