Consistent performances in each of the club’s modified match simulations have done wonders for Andrew Boston’s confidence, and his belief he can match it at the elite level. 

“Yeah I’m definitely feeling comfortable playing senior football now, and playing up forward.

“I just want to keep improving and hopefully playing a few games this year.”

Alongside Tom Nicholls and Timmy Sumner, the home-grown sharpshooter was one the club’s best finds in 2013, with his contested marking and game awareness increasing in each of his eight AFL matches. 

Of his eight shots at goal, Boston potted seven of them, with all of his major scores coming off career performances against Port Adelaide and Greater Western Sydney. 

It’s largely why the players entrusted him with the final kick at one of the team’s most challenging skills session in Arizona, when high performance manager Stephen Schwerdt decided to combine high intensity training with fatigued goal-kicking.

But as he prepares to begin his stake for more senior opportunities this year, Boston is locked in on not being a one-trick pony, focusing heavily on increasing his defensive efforts away from the football. 

 “Yeah I definitely have increased by second and third efforts, which I believe comes from having completed a full pre-season,” he said.

“Last year I only had half a pre-season under my belt and really struggled in that area but I now feel as though I have the fitness to go and push on those second and third efforts.”

While winning a NAB Challenge selection will be made harder given his rookie-listing, Boston is set on digging his teeth into some pre-season action.  

 “As a rookie it is probably a little tougher, but you just have to keep training as hard as you can and hopefully it will come up.

“The boys are looking forward to the NAB Challenge. It’s been a long pre-season and we trained really well, so it’s good to finally go up and play footy against other opposition.”