Season 2024 was one of great learning for Kuwarna defender Josh Worrell. 

It was a campaign that included producing a consistent stretch of football, before joining the rehab group due to a three-month injury.

But it gave the 23-year-old opportunities to find out new things about himself that would help to become better, both on and off the field.

“Looking back over the year, there were positives and negatives that came throughout, and going through those ups and downs I learnt a lot,” Worrell said. 

“To be able to get myself in the team at the start and play some good footy was great for me and my confidence at the level. 

“Getting injured through the middle part was frustrating, but it helped me find that extra bit of motivation to push myself as hard as I could, and to achieve that goal of getting back before the end of the year was very satisfying.” 

Worrell entered the season with just 17 games under his belt and was keen to use the year as an opportunity to cement his spot in the back six.

And across the first eight weeks of the season, the 23-year-old did just that, featuring in every game and playing with a confidence he said he had not previously experienced at AFL. 

“Personally those first eight weeks of the season were great, it was the first time I felt comfortable with my spot in the team and also confident in my ability to perform at the level,” Worrell told AFC Media. 

“Unfortunately as a team we weren’t playing the best footy at that time, so it was definitely frustrating from that point of view.

“But just being able to be consistently on the park and playing good footy, I took a lot of belief from that period that I believe will hold me in good stead moving forward.”

The purple patch was brutally cut short in Round Nine, when an unfortunate accident in the second quarter of the clash against Brisbane resulted in a fractured arm.

Reflecting on the incident and the hours that followed, he said while he was shattered to go down, his mind quickly moved to how he could get back on the park. 

“It was shattering, I felt like I was in good form and was very confident in how I was playing,” Worrell said.

“Unfortunately it was one of those ones you can’t do much about, it was just a freak accident where my arm got stuck in the wrong spot, which made it quite frustrating. 

“But while I was disappointed, it made me very determined, as I quickly set about my rehabilitation with the goal of getting back to playing again this season.”

From then on, Worrell committed himself to the rehab process, and was constantly spurred by “that carrot dangling in front of him.”

He said he learnt a lot from the 11-week recovery that would stick with him for years to come. 

“Rehab is a very long and tedious process, so having a good mindset going into it is super important, and I think my determination to get back this season and have an impact really helped me,” Worrell said.

“I had that carrot dangling in front of me the whole time, and it motivated me to give those gym sessions everything I had and come back a fitter, and better, version of myself.

“While you never want to be in the rehab group, I took a lot out of the experience that will definitely help me both on and off the field in the future.”

Worrell’s hard work paid off, as 11 weeks after he fractured his arm he found himself ready to return for the Round 21 trip to Geelong.

Returning to the side with just four weeks of the season remaining, and finals out of the question, he explained what motivated him through that period.

“I find that motivation comes from within myself, so while as a team when I came back finals was out of the question, I was still so determined to come back into the side and show I could replicate that form from early in the season,” Worrell said.

“I pushed myself really hard over that four week block of games, each week I went out there hungry to get better and play my role for the team.

“While it was only a few games, I learnt so much from that month of footy, and it was so rewarding to see all that hard work I put into rehab pay off.” 

Although adding just 13 matches to his career tally, the lessons from 2024 were set to be critical for the young defender as he continued his development.

He said the ups and downs of this past campaign had made him as motivated as ever to hit the ground running in 2025.

“I am incredibly motivated heading into next year, as a back line group I think we’ve developed quite nicely and I can’t wait to keep growing with those guys,” Worrell said.

“It was a bit disappointing not to make finals this year, but I feel that as a group we are all really hungry to come back fitter, stronger and better.

“For myself, I think having another pre-season will be massive, that extra fitness and experience will hopefully see me take my game to another level.”