PATRICK Veszpremi is hopeful of getting a third AFL chance, confident he now has the maturity to deliver on his undoubted talent.
Veszpremi was delisted by his second club, the Western Bulldogs, last month after playing just one game in 2013.
It left 2007's No.11 draft pick facing the possibility that his AFL career might be over after six seasons and 23 games.
It's a prospect that would have seemed scarcely believable when as a Sydney Swan he kicked four goals in just his fourth game, against the Brisbane Lions, in round 22, 2008.
Veszpremi, 24, told AFL.com.au he believed he could still be a damaging forward at AFL level, having successfully addressed previous weaknesses this year.
"This year I thought I improved in a lot of areas. My endurance I improved that massively, I improved my kicking efficiency around the ground, I improved my goalkicking and my tackling," Veszpremi said.
"I still believe I've got plenty to give. I didn't really get that much opportunity this year, which was really disappointing, but I've moved on.
"Playing as a forward I think I can really give something to another team, just those forward smarts. I still believe that I'm a damaging player, so hopefully another club can see something in me."
Veszpremi says 2013 was a frustrating year as his strong form with the Bulldogs' VFL affiliate Williamstown went largely unrecognised.
He sensed his senior opportunities would be limited when he was overlooked for all of the Western Bulldogs' NAB Cup games despite a pre-season when he "ticked all the boxes".
Veszpremi was recalled for the Bulldogs' round five clash against Geelong, but was dropped after a quiet game and never got another chance.
"It's frustrating when you're playing good footy, but not getting recognised in terms of being in the mix for selection," Veszpremi said.
"At the end of the day, I'm not blaming anyone for anything. That's footy I suppose, that's the industry that we're in."
Veszpremi has already begun training by himself to ensure the fitness gains he made this year are not lost if another club throws him a lifeline, most likely in November's Gillette Delisted Free Agency periods.
Despite moving home to Victoria after three years with the Swans, Veszpremi says he would be willing to join a non-Victorian club given the right opportunity.
The former Northern Knight says he was "pretty immature" when he moved to the Swans, but the decision to return home at the end of 2010 was the right one at the time.
"I was really homesick at the Swans and just really wanted to get back home to my family and friends," Veszpremi said.
"If I had my time over again, I'd make the same decision because I felt so much better mentally when I did get home.
"But now I'd be more than happy to move interstate. I'm more mature now, it would be much easier to move away from home," he said.
