Sam Menegola surpassed many expectations in his debut season for Geelong, but he’s the first to admit just how much improvement is needed to go further.

It was a harsh wake up call for the Cats in their preliminary final loss to Sydney last season, with many players simply not at their best in the 37-point defeat.

Speaking to K Rock Football, Menegola put his hand up as one who needed to be better.

“If you looked at the Sydney game, there was a pretty clear gap between myself – and I’m sure some of the other guys felt the same – and guys like Luke Parker and [Daniel] Hannebery, and their system and the way they worked around the ball,” the 24-year-old said.

“Just at times last year, I felt, within games, there were too many fluctuations in the small parts of my game, so I really want to iron those out.”

“I’ve only played eight games of AFL, so just getting the little things right consistently every time.” 

Across those eight games, Menegola averaged 24 disposals and booted six goals to more than bounce back from being a footballing outcast.

His story is now well known, having been on the lists of both Hawthorn and Fremantle before being granted one last chance by the Cats, and he is determined to write another chapter in 2017.

But Mengola is also realistic about what is required for both himself and the rest of the Geelong playing list if success is to come their way.

“I think there’s two sides to it,” Menegola said. 

“If I don’t improve, I’ll probably be overtaken. Then, if the guys in that group [23-27 year olds] don’t improve, we’re probably going to have a similar finish to last year, if not worse.”

“None of us are happy to cop that again.”

“Everyone on the list, not just that bracket, understand that they have to improve individually, so that as a team we go further.”