TOM LEDGER admits he's taken a risk by walking out of St Kilda but believes he has plenty to offer another club after realising what it takes to become an elite player.
The 21-year-old asked to be delisted by the Saints last week after a candid chat with coach Scott Watters, where he was informed he was a "50-50" prospect to remain at the club next year.
Instead of relying on the Saints striking a trade for him, Ledger decided to make himself available for recruitment through one of three Gillette Delisted Free Agency periods.
Having spoken to at least five clubs, Ledger is now seeking an opportunity to train with one in the next few months to prove he is worthy of another chance.
"This year I saw a lot of first-year players fly past me and I could just see the same thing happening next year," Ledger told AFL.com.au's Trade Radio.
"I don't know whether if I stayed again, I'd be right at the bottom.
"I'll be right at the bottom at another club as well but I just felt it went a bit stale and the best thing would be to get out and start somewhere fresh.
"Mentally, it's better for me to do that [rather] than banging your head against the wall again.
"That's what I felt and maybe it's slightly illogical but that's just how I felt going forward."
Ledger admitted there had been concern over his endurance but said he had no issue with running out games and it was "more of a numbers/GPS thing".
He did extra running sessions throughout the season and felt comfortable in the Saints' final two AFL games, where he gained a call up after averaging over 28 disposals in the final six weeks of the VFL.
But he felt it was worth the risk to move on after receiving no guarantees from Watters, and being mindful of being stranded without a club when the majority had made their list management decisions after the trade and free agency period.
"I did speak to the footy club and Scott said, 'Do you think you can improve and I said, 'Yeah, I do', and he said, 'You're still a 50-50 so we're not sure yet, we haven't made that call'," he said.
"So then I just made that call myself.
"I was told it depended on trade week with me, whether I stayed or not, I was pretty much 50-50 so I just made a decision, took a risk and hedged my bets.
"I just feel like I needed a change and I'm hoping that pays off."
Ledger said he was hopeful of a training opportunity and would be happy with a rookie list spot if it came up.
He's back in Western Australia and has joined an athletics club, and is keeping fit with boxing and personal training.
After three years at St Kilda, the midfielder said he was ready to taken another step after a solid apprenticeship.
"As you enter your fourth [year], you sort of get it and the work required," he said.
"I'm doing more in this off-season than I've done in the past because I just get the work you've got to do to get there. It's not easy.
"I think I can offer inside and outside run and often kick goals so I can offer a bit on the field but just in terms of the way I'd approach it, I've certainly improved."
