Ballantyne upbeat after solid pre-season

Season 2018 looms as a big year for Hayden Ballantyne and the Fremantle Dockers, with the 30-year- old forward’s sights set on a finals push this year.

The Dockers veteran, who grew up in Baldivis, had a tough time with injury in 2017 but is looking to build on a positive pre-season effort after his side defeated the West Coast Eagles in a behind-closed-doors scratch match last Sunday.

Ballantyne told the Telegraph that the hard off season work, which has included Pilates and lots of boxing, had held him in good stead for a solid pre-season.

“I’ve pretty much gone through and done every session so that’s a big tick for me,” Ballantyne said.

“I’ve only done that once in my career and that was a pretty good year so, fingers crossed, this will be a good year too.”

As a playing group Ballantyne said the team was focused on continuing to build on their performances in 2017, with a view to finals action.

“We always start out with an aspiration to play finals,” he said.

“We’re trying to build on last year; the year before was obviously very disappointing as we only won four games. Last year we won eight and this year we need to build on that. Generally if you win 12 or 13, you get to play finals.”

On a personal note Ballantyne said hitting the 20-game mark would be a real milestone.

“I’ve never played a full season so if I can get 22 games in, even 20 games, I’d be stoked,” he said.

Away from the spotlight of the AFL, Ballantyne keeps himself busy as a co-owner of Anytime Fitness in Kwinana with business partner Jarrad Miles as well as having a horse agistment centre on the farm where he lives.