Delisted West Coast defender Alex Witherden is keeping his AFL dream alive despite being shown the door.
The Eagles are heading in a new direction, blooding their youth in the hope they develop into stars of the future, with Witherden making way.
The former Lion played 121 AFL games (59 - BL, 62 - WCE) after being taken with Pick 23 in the 2016 National Draft.
However, the delisting came as a bit of a shock to the Geelong Falcons product, who played 40 matches across the past two seasons as a regular in Adam Simpson and interim coach Jarrad Schofield's lineup.
Following the completion of the trade and free agency period, Witherden says clubs are starting to assess how many vacancies are on their list and whether they look at the draft or discarded players to fill the spots.
"I'd like to keep going if the opportunity was there," Witherden said on SEN.
"I've been chatting to my manager, Nick Gieschen, and he said that post-trade period, clubs are now trying to get an understanding of how many list spots they have.
"And because it's such a talented draft, it might be tight to get on a list, whether that's the SSP (pre-season supplemental selection) or having a crack [as a delisted free agent], I'm open to it.
"But in saying that, if there wasn't to be an opportunity, I had an absolute red-hot crack, and I'm proud of doing that."
Originally hailing from Geelong, Witherden is still hopeful of playing football at the highest level but admits there is still plenty to work through in the coming weeks.
"I'll definitely have a kick next year," Witherden added.
"I'll be playing footy at some level, whether it's through a club that helps me get a job or state level.
"I'm staying fit"
The 26-year-old was also buoyant about the Eagles' prospects in 2025, flagging his former club's drastic change during his time in Queensland.
Witherden was at the Lions when they were struggling, winning five games in each of his first two campaigns at the elite level.
Brisbane managed to attract star talent such as Lachie Neale and Charlie Cameron, as well as the development of high-end draft picks, to rapidly rise up the ladder to finish second.
"Fans at home should look at Brisbane as a model of how quickly things can turn change," Witherden said bullishly.
"I was there in 17' and 18', and we finished bottom and won five games in each of those years, and the next year (2019) we finished second.
"We brought in Lachie Neale, Charlie Cameron and Lincoln McCarthy... and I know [it's not the same], but bringing Liam Baker, Matt Owies, and Jack Graham has a similar feel to what Brisbane did back then.
"Plus the development of Ginbey, Hough, Maric and Long.
"I can truly see the Eagles climbing the ladder next year and winning a few more games."
The Eagles have finished in the bottom three for three consecutive seasons but managed to marginally narrow the gap per their percentage.
In 2023, West Coast recorded a percentage of 53.03 per cent (and three wins), compared to 68.15 per cent (five wins) in the campaign just gone.