By Michael Whiting
While the end of season could not come quick enough for many of his weary teammates, young Sun Josh Caddy wishes it were still going.
Caddy endured a horror 2011 after fracturing his foot in a pre-season match against West Coast and managed just two senior appearances.
The 18-year-old taken at no.7 in last year's NAB AFL National Draft had to bide his time, returning for one quarter in the reserves five weeks ago.
The following week Caddy played a half and three quarters the week after before making his senior debut against Melbourne at the MCG in round 23.
On Saturday against Hawthorn, Caddy showed why he is so highly rated, kicking two clever goals to go with 16 disposals in a polished performance.
He said after just getting his teeth stuck into the season, he wished it hadn't ended.
"To come in with only a couple of games left is disappointing but it's made me more hungry," Caddy said.
"I can't wait for next year now and I'm so hungry for pre-season. It was like practice matches for me at the moment.
"Originally there was talk I wouldn't play this year so to get a couple of games in and get a taste for it is fantastic. I'm really glad the coaches gave me an opportunity."
Caddy is a strongly built midfielder who showed his skill up forward against Hawthorn, snapping his first career goal in the second quarter with his left foot and adding another with a right footed snap in the third.
Caddy said after experiencing the "best day ever" with his MCG debut, he started to feel more comfortable at the top level on Saturday.
"Towards the end of the game I was pretty gone but I loved every minute of it," he said.
"It was good to be back out there for a whole game, it's the first full game I've played.
"Luckily I played mostly forward and it wasn't as many km's as if I played in the midfield.
"I definitely don't think I set the world on fire but I wanted to do the basics well and have a crack and I think I did just enough."