AFL
MENTION last year's grand final and Harry Cunningham still gets a "gut wrenching" feeling.
In just his second season at AFL level, Cunningham got to experience the sport's biggest day only to be part of the Swans' team that fell to Hawthorn by 63 points.
Almost five months have passed since that day, but any talk of the grand final defeat still unsettles Cunningham.
The 20-year-old is determined to use the loss to spur his 2015 season.
"It's very gut wrenching," Cunningham said of the grand final.
"When you get asked, or have to speak about it, it brings back that gut wrenching feeling.
"I never want to have that feeling again.
"But it does spur you on."
Cunningham has been hard at work over the pre-season to make himself better.
"We know as a team we've got to get better and that's what we've been doing over the pre-season," he said.
"We've been having a look at little things, getting better at those little things, just improving both individually and as a team.
"We'll be looking to hit back this year for sure and all the boys are behind it, which is good."
Cunningham, 20, enters his third AFL season on the back of a breakout year.
He was awarded the club's rising star and has now enjoyed an injury-interrupted pre-season.
Cunningham is excited for the year ahead.
"It's been pretty good so far, very solid, very long, and now looking forward to the games," Cunningham said.
"I've just been working hard to fix and improve little things in my game.
"I can't be satisfied with what happened last year, yes it was a good year, but as an individual I need to improve, which will ultimately improve the team.
"I'll be looking to step up, whether it be in a leadership or on the field as well, that's what I'm looking to do.
"As a team we're doing that and we're looking for big things this year."
Cunningham expects to continue to play a variety of roles.
"I think it will be similar to last year and probably change every week, whether it be tagging, back, forward or mid," he said.
"I see that as a strength, I'm able to play any sort of position, I don't sort of lock down to one.
"I'll be looking to play my role and do a bit extra, whatever I need to do for the team."
Cunningham returned to Wagga on Monday, along with three of his Swan team mates as part of the AFL community camps.
He said one of the highlights was a return to his old school, Mater Dei Catholic College.
