FRESH from what he admits was a character-building 2007 campaign, Brisbane Lions midfielder Justin Sherman is determined to bounce back to his effervescent best in 2008.
Sherman enjoyed a dream first two years at the Gabba, playing 19 games and earning a Rising Star nomination in his debut season of 2005 and then playing every game and finishing second behind Simon Black in the club champion award in 2006.
But his young career hit its first significant speed bumps this year, when he was squeezed out of the side and then suffered a foot infection.
"My philosophy on footy is that you never stop learning – and I really learned a lot out of last year," Sherman told lions.com.au.
"I had a few setbacks and I didn’t really know how to react when I got dropped.
"There were times during the year when I wasn’t really myself personally – I’ve got a pretty bubbly personality but it wasn’t showing.
"This year I’m going to be better prepared for the start of the season and I’m really grateful for the support everyone has given me.
"Lots have people have shown confidence in me that I can come back bigger and better and it’s been really good to have someone like [coach] Leigh [Matthews] giving you that kind of direction.”
Sherman had an interrupted pre-season last year after representing Australia in the International Rules series in Ireland.
In hindsight he says he might have been better staying home and focussing on his preparation for 2007.
The flip side, however is that would have ruled him out of a rare opportunity to play for his country.
"Representing Australia is a pretty special thing and, as far as individual achievements go, that’s one you don’t really want to let slip," Sherman said.
"So much passion goes into playing for your country - it’s the pinnacle of sport and I did take a lot out of it.
"But looking back it probably did disrupt my pre-season a bit. I had three or four weeks off and I was a bit behind the eight-ball and playing catch-up with my fitness from the start.
"I still got myself in pretty good shape but deep down it kind of niggles at the back of my mind that those three or four weeks might have cost me."
This off-season Sherman has stayed closer to home – quite literally – and has purchased a new residence in Brisbane.
His summer workload is aimed at building the endurance needed to spend long periods in the Lions’ midfield.
"I’m mainly working on endurance at the moment – just trying to get myself as fit as possible," he said.
"I’m feeling really good and my skinfolds are pretty much where they need to be.
"You can’t play in the midfield unless you can run really well and even just improving a couple of per cent can help with that."
While Sherman is striving to become an elite runner, the Lions are charting a return to being one of the competition’s elite.
Having largely watched on as the Lion roared back into finals contention in the second half of last season, he 20-year-old can’t wait to be a part of it.
"It’s a really exciting time for us, especially having been there from the start of this re-generation, if you want to call it that, of players," Sherman said.
"A lot of us younger guys came to the club and played our first games around the same time.
"It’s a new year with new challenges and I just feel so lucky to be a part of it all."
