SAM Weideman says he wouldn’t have changed a thing in his first AFL-listed season, despite playing in Casey’s losing Grand Final against Footscray at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Weideman kicked two goals in Casey’s 31-point loss, capping off a most impressive development year, which included three AFL matches.

“I’ve loved this year and it’s been awesome,” he told Melbourne TV.  

“I’ve really enjoyed this year and I’ve had a full year of actual playing, which hasn’t happened for a while, which has been great.

“To play in a Grand Final in my first year is pretty special and I’ll hold that close to my heart for my whole life.

“It’s a really special feeling and next year we’ve got plenty to build on. We’ll have a bit a break now and then get stuck into it next pre-season. Hopefully, we’ll build on the positive start to my career and keep looking forward.”

Casey’s third quarter proved costly in the wash-up, when Footscray ran away with the game to win the VFL premiership.

“We fought hard in that first half and thought we really had something going,” Weideman said.   

“It had a similar pattern to our last final against them, but we shot ourselves in the foot in the third quarter and they got a run on and we couldn’t really stop it.

“It was really frustrating … to lose the Grand Final and it was a bitter pill to swallow and we’ll take it in our stride.”

Weideman said there was a positive buzz in the rooms at half-time, before Footscray piled on eight goals to nil in the third quarter.

“We felt we had something really good going and plenty of run in the legs,” he said.

“Everyone was up and about and we had a really great vibe in the rooms.

“We couldn’t get it going in the midfield and we were getting beaten by that side of things and our structures went out the window, which was a shame.”