Ainsworth a good fit in midfield role

HE’S got Gary Ablett’s old number and Ben Ainsworth says he is building the body and game that could lead him to take the vacant midfield position left by the Brownlow medallist.

Ainsworth has stacked on 3kg already this preseason to sit at 78kg while increasing his training load ahead of his second AFL season.

Gold Coast struggled in 2017 but after overcoming a badly corked thigh that ruled him out for eight games, Ainsworth played 13 games and was one of the Suns’ best.

The 19-year-old showed his potential as a tough small forward, kicking 13 goals last season, but he already has his sights set on starting his transition to the midfield.

Ainsworth, who took on Ablett’s No.9 guernsey when he returned to Geelong at the end of last year, said his increasing strength and aerobic capacity would be key to his ability to pinch-hit in the midfield.

“Last year (the first-year players) were managed a bit and we did probably 70 or 75 per cent of the preseason,” Ainsworth said.

“This year we are increasing the load and I’ve probably done about 90 per cent. I’m a bit more mature than last year in terms of my body shape and durability so this should be a good year.

“I definitely feel an increase in my aerobic capacity, I have a little bit more endurance. Hopefully I can go in to that midfield role and also play down forward as well.

“Hopefully that holds me in good stead to go in to that midfield and go down that path. A lot of individuals in the team are going to expand themselves in to different roles and it will be good for them.”

The man taken at pick four of the 2016 AFL draft said he was aiming to play upwards of 15 games in 2018 while learning the game plan new coach Stuart Dew was implementing.

“Last year was OK but I missed those games with a cork,” Ainsworth said.

“Hopefully this year I can be up around that 15 to 20 game mark and have a really good season as an individual and team.

“We have been concentrating on the fundamentals and taking it week-by-week. Dew has been drip-feeding us information and hopefully we can have a better year than the last.”

I’M A BIT MORE MATURE THAN LAST YEAR IN TERMS OF MY BODY SHAPE AND DURABILITY SO THIS SHOULD BE A GOOD YEAR BEN AINSWORTH

Picture: AAP IMAGE Ben Ainsworth (right) celebrates after kicking a goal at Metricon Stadium last year. He hopes for many more this year in a new midfield role.