FREMANTLE forward Hayden Ballantyne has played down a tumultuous post-season that saw him explore a move away from the Dockers, saying he was "stoked" to still be with the club.
After admitting a fresh start was "something that could be on the table" towards the end of last season, Ballantyne was unable to secure a trade to a new club.
West Coast said it could not trade in the 29-year-old because of salary cap restrictions, while he received little interest from clubs outside his home state.
Going into the final season of a three-year contract, Ballantyne said the dust had settled and the intense scrutiny over his future through the NAB AFL Trade Period had been "water off a duck's back".
"My ambition was always to stay as a Fremantle player my whole career and the fact I'm here and training hard with the boys getting ready for 2017, I'm as happy as ever," Ballantyne said.
"(There was) a lot of outside noise, but I've got used to a lot of outside noise through my career.
"It was water off a duck's back for me. I was just focusing on what I need to focus on.
"My manager does a great job and he dealt with all the rubbish outside. For me, it didn't faze me in the slightest."
Asked if he had requested a trade out of Fremantle, Ballantyne said: "I didn't ask for a trade, no … (I was) open to look at all the possibilities for my football career."
Ballantyne told Channel Nine in August he'd be upset to leave Fremantle, but "if I can see myself playing good football somewhere else, then it's a possibility".
He compared his situation to that of Adelaide superstar Eddie Betts, whose move from Carlton has seen him earn All Australian selection in 2015 and 2016, booting a career-high 75 goals in 2016.
Ballantyne is now seeking to return to his All Australian form of 2014 when he kicked a career-high 49 goals.
The small forward said his first conversation with coach Ross Lyon this pre-season had been positive.
"Once the dust settled, we laid everything out I said, 'What do you need from me in 2017?' He was stoked with that," Ballantyne said.
"He said, 'Get your head down and bum up and get into pre-season'. That's what I'm excited for."
Ballantyne kicked 26 goals in 20 games last season, with a fractured cheekbone late in the year sidelining him for two games.
He also missed a seven-week stretch in 2015 because of a pectoral injury and was sidelined for two matches because of suspension, finishing the year with 15 goals from 15 games.
A more attacking game style and directive to play on instinct in 2017 were ingredients that could help him get back to his best.
"David Hale is our new forwards coach and he's come in with a few different little changes to the way we're going to play," Ballantyne said.
"Hopefully there'll be a little change up there and get us around the ground a bit more.
"If we're running more towards goal it gives the defenders less chance to attack themselves.
"A more attacking style of football and (playing) on instinct will help as well."
