Matthew Suckling hopes to play beyond season 2019 for Western Bulldogs

He’s one of the Bulldogs’ most experienced players but Matthew Suckling hopes 2019 isn’t his last season, declaring he’s now rid of the Achilles issues that ruined his 2018 season and is ready to get back to his best.

Matthew Suckling says he’s got plenty of good footy left in him. Picture: Michael Klein

Western Bulldogs defender Matthew Suckling is determined to ensure season 2019 is not his last as the out-of-contract veteran continues his recovery from injury.

Suckling, 30, had his season wiped out after Round 11 this year with a persistent Achilles complaint which has only recently come good.

Speaking at the Bulldogs preseason training camp in Torquay on Monday, Suckling said he was back running after significant time spent in the gym trying to build up strength in his legs and was “really confident” the injury would not give him any further problems.

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“I’m taking my time to make sure it gets right and have a full season,” Suckling said.

“I had a bit of a slow start (to preseason) just making sure I got the Achilles right and building nicely. Straight after Christmas I should be back to full training.”

The two-time Hawthorn premiership player inked a one-year contract extension for 2019 in July but said he had no intention of hanging up the boots anytime soon.

Matthew Suckling says he’s got plenty of good footy left in him. Picture: Michael Klein

“I’d love to keep playing for as long as I can and I thought I was having a really good year last year before I got injured,” he said.

“If Bevo (coach Luke Beveridge) keeps picking me and they want me around I’ll definitely stay at the club.”

Four ‘captains’ picked teams at the Bulldogs’ beach training session in Torquay on Monday for a series of challenges.

There was a Game of Thrones theme to the selections, but most of that went over Suckling’s head having not seen the acclaimed television series.

“I’ve never watched Game of Thrones,” Suckling said.

“There’s probably only a couple of us in Australia or the world, really. I’m one of them.”