Gold Coast SUNS recruit Sam Collins says his year in the footballing wilderness strengthened his resolve as a player and a person.

After being drafted by Fremantle in 2015, Collins played just 14 senior games in two years before he was delisted and left to ply his trade for Werribee in the VFL.

It was there where the 24-year-old took his game to the next level, winning the club’s best and fairest and finishing equal-third in the VFL’s JJ Liston Trophy for his work off half-back.

“I suppose obviously the initial disappointment of being delisted (was a challenge) but then after that it was more just the settling in to normal life,” Collins told SUNS TV.

“(I was) working 8-5 then getting out to Werribee through Melbourne peak-hour traffic and training and getting back home to St Kilda.

“I think it was just the hours and the time of your day - you really have to prioritise what you need to do and that was a bit of a challenge but I learnt a lot about myself through that time so it was really good.”

After impressing in the VFL, Collins was given the opportunity to revive his AFL career on the Gold Coast, but is expecting a tough slog if he is to add to his tally of 14 games.

He joins the likes of Club Champion Jarrod Harbrow, veteran Pearce Hanley, new recruit Jack Hombsch and incumbent Rory Thompson in what is now a stocked defensive unit.

“There’s some really great quality players down in the backline and people who are really knowledgeable and know what they’re doing,” Collins said.

“To be able to learn off them is going to really benefit me and hopefully take my football to the next level.

“So far everyone’s working really hard and everyone’s understanding a new structure and hopefully we can be really competitive this year.”

Collins is no stranger to hard work and is ready to fight for his spot in the best 22, eyeing off the JLT Community Series as his first opportunity to prove himself..

“There’s always going to be the competition (for spots),” he said. 

“Honestly the competition I faced at Fremantle just made me a better player and I think there’s nothing wrong with spending time in the NEAFL and proving yourself.

“I think there’s going to be a really healthy competition for spots and hopefully the list is healthy for the full season because that’s going to make us better.”