PATIENCE and perspective have been two key attributes to Sam Frost’s season.
Despite playing just two matches in the opening 15 rounds, Frost never lost hope or got frustrated about missing out on playing for Melbourne.
The fact he honed his craft in a winning side at Casey gave him plenty of optimism that when the opportunity presented, he could pounce on a position in the Melbourne side.
And since returning to the round 16, Frost has continued to grow each week, with his most recent performance against GWS Giants – his former club – in round 23, his best game so far in 2018.
Now on the eve of his first AFL final against Geelong Cats at the MCG on Friday night, Frost reflected on his return to the side and spoke with perspective.
“I was probably lucky with how [Casey was going in] the VFL. They had a number of wins in a row and I’ve got quite a good relationship with Jade Rawlings, who is coaching the Casey side,” he told Melbourne Media.
“My time at Casey was actually quite enjoyable, as much as you strive to be playing senior footy. The time there was good and I was feeling pretty good about my footy.
“If I just keep playing well and keep playing consistently, then my time will come eventually. It’s not a matter of trying to bang the door down or anything like that – it’s my job to keep playing footy, seniors or VFL, and it wasn’t really an issue for me. It was just a matter of staying positive and keep working on the things that I needed to work on. That’s paid off for me.”
Frost said he was realist enough to know that when the timing was right, he had earned his place back in the Melbourne line-up.
“I’ve said it before – sometimes you’ve just got to bide your time until the team chemistry’s right or they think you’re ready to go,” he said.
“It’s been nice to come in and have a good impact and be getting positive feedback, so the back half of the year has been very good for me.
“It’s a nice time of the year to be playing some good footy and be finding a bit of form. It’s nothing to rest on, but it has been nice.”
Frost celebrates the win over his old side, GWS, with the skipper (Photo: Adam Trafford)
The recently turned 25-year-old said he had seen the club come a long way in his time at Melbourne, after arriving from GWS at the end of the 2014 season.
After playing 21 games with the Giants from 2012-14, Frost has played 45 with the Demons since 2015.
Having overcome several injuries and some out of the side, Frost said his football career been worth the while.
“It has been a long personal journey for me, without having played a final, but it’s been so great to see the way the club’s turned around and the up-and-coming players we’ve got coming through,” he said.
“We’re all building some confidence and we’re playing some really good footy, so more so since I’ve been at Melbourne, I reflect a little bit and think about that.
“It’s just a really good story isn’t it.”
Known for his ability to break the lines and rebound from 50, Frost said he had built confidence from playing with fellow key tall Oscar McDonald and from the blessing of his teammates to take the game on.
“We help each other’s strengths and make-up for each other’s deficiencies, so it’s been good playing with Oscar. We good friends as well, so it’s been good fun,” he said.
“I’ve always had the licence, but it either comes in the game or it doesn’t, or it’s an opportunity thing. It’s great for the team and great for my game getting forward and rebounding a bit, but if it doesn’t happen, it’s not something I’m too worried about.
“I don’t go into a game thinking about it – it’s defence first, and if I get the chance to [rebound], then it’s great. I have enjoyed doing it a bit in the last few weeks, but we’ll just see what happens.”
