CARLTON fans are beginning to see all that second-year Blue Will Setterfield has to offer.

While his first years in the AFL system punctuated with injury - first his ankle, then a concussion and finally an ACL rupture - Setterfield is reaping the benefits of a year of continuity in Navy Blue. 

Speaking to the AFL Players’ Association in week two of the Blues’ tenure on the Gold Coast, Setterfield spoke on overcoming injury to become a more resilient player.

FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH WILL SETTERFIELD, CLICK HERE.

“I learnt a lot about attention to detail with my training and getting out what you put in with everything you do on and off the field,” Setterfield said.

“Everyone goes through stages of their career where they have an injury, you’ll be pretty lucky if you go your whole career without one.

“Everyone goes through it: it’s just about how you handle it. I think it’ll repay me down the track.”

2019 was a significant year for the young midfielder, playing a career-high 18 matches in his first year at Ikon Park.

It was a season which Setterfield has often described as though it was his first season in the AFL.

The continuity of last year has allowed him to approach the challenges of 2020 with the confidence he needs: with more midfield time an element of that.

“It was fresh start debuting for a new footy club. I’d only played four or five games in a few years,” he said.

“It was very pleasing. I was still gaining confidence in the first part of the year in my body and my knee, just trying to figure out where I wanted to play my best footy.

“When ‘Teaguey’ took over in the back half of the year I was just super confident. I was playing on the wing and had a clear role. After a pre-season, I’m starting to get a bit more midfield time and I’m enjoying it every step of the way."

It’s been an impressive month for the former Giant, who has stepped up to an inside midfield role in the last three weeks.

Setterfield highlighted Carlton Head of Development Luke Power as a key influence in his ability to make an impact in Navy Blue. 

“Luke’s massive with the young boys. He’s looking after most of the first, second, and third-year boys and a couple of others like me and Matty Kennedy, who he’s close with,” he said.

“He’s been huge: he’s got so much experience with footy and his information is valuable, so we learn a lot off him.”