Adelaide Crows hard nut Sam Berry in no rush to start contract talks
Out-of-contract Crow Sam Berry says he ‘fell in a hole’ last season is focusing on climbing out of it before turning his attention to a new deal for 2025.
AFL
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Adelaide midfielder Sam Berry has expressed his love of the club and city but is concentrating on cementing his spot in the side before switching his attention to his contract.
Berry, 22 is without a deal for next year, having delayed talks with the Crows so he can focus on his football after a disappointing 2023 campaign.
The hard nut played 18 games two seasons ago and recorded the most tackles in the competition, only to receive a “reality check” last year when he featured just four times at AFL level.
This campaign began with him in the substitute role or subbed off in seven of his first nine games.
While he has impressed over the past fortnight, playing full games, the Victorian is not yet worrying about his future.
Berry said he had delayed contract discussions to avoid the distraction.
“I try to keep (the business side of football) separate and not make it a stress,” Berry said.
“All I’ve been thinking about is trying to play good footy.
“That’s my No.1 focus.
“Whatever happens will come off the back of that.
“I love Adelaide, love the club, love the people and have really enjoyed my time here so far.”
Berry said things kept going uphill for him at the start of his career.
He played 17 games in his debut season after being drafted from Gippsland at pick 28 in 2020.
Then came his standout 2022, which culminated with a ninth placing in the Crows’ best-and-fairest award.
Berry partly attributed his slump last year to pressure from expectation.
He said getting back to the things he did best, such as contested ball winning and stoppage work, as well as focusing on the mental side of footy, had helped him return to form.
“I’m trying to get into a good mindset going into games every week because I struggled with that a little bit last year and fell into a hole a little bit,” he said.
“I’ve done a bit of work with the club psych, (midfield coach) Nathan van Berlo has helped me a lot and (former Adelaide captain) Rory Sloane.
“It’s been a funny year.
“I’ve played a lot of games in the sub role and tried to fight to cement my spot.
“(Being the sub) made me really hungry just to get back to trying to cement my spot in the team.
“I think I’m starting now to get back to the level I want to be.”
Adelaide will field its fourth debutant of the season on Saturday night.
Second-year defender Hugh Bond will come into the side for the home match against St Kilda.
Drafted at pick 50 in 2022, Bond is being rewarded after playing well as a lockdown backman in the SANFL.
The 19-year-old joins Dan Curtin, Billy Dowling and Zac Taylor in debuting for the Crows this year.
Bond gets his opportunity with half-back Mitch Hinge unavailable due to an adductor injury.
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