AFTER feeling he was found out in Geelong's preliminary final loss to Sydney last year, midfielder Sam Menegola is targeting consistency to become a better footballer.

The former rookie at Hawthorn and Fremantle injured the posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in February last year and did not come into the senior side until round 18.

From his debut against Adelaide, he averaged 24 disposals in an impressive start to his career. 

As he told the K-Rock football website, Menegola struggled in the Cats' final match of the year against one of the competition's premier onball divisions.

"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 (Dan) Hannebery, and their system and the way they worked around the ball," Menegola said.

"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."

The Cats were criticised at times in 2016 for relying too heavily on midfield stars Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood. 

Menegola's contract expires at the end of the upcoming season but the 24-year-old said it was not causing him any concern. 

"I’m pretty lucky I've got Colin Young (manager) working with me. I'll leave that with him," Menegola said. 

"Some guys, it might motivate them. For me, I'm used to not having another contract on the table. 

"It doesn’t really change your mindset when you come into the club day-to-day because you just want to be the best footballer you can."

All pictures by AFL Photos' Adam Trafford.

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