AFTER several injury-riddled seasons and battling some concussion issues last year, Rohan Bail says the reason he produced his best AFL season was that he didn’t worry about his past setbacks.

Instead, the hard-running Demon said he entered the 2014 season with a much freer perspective on his game. 

“I managed to put a solid pre-season together and that confidence went into the game and I never thought about concussion or anything like that – things happen in games and you’ve just got to move on,” he told Dee TV.

“I had a good pre-season and I got along well with the coaches and I tried to get as much feedback as I could early on and [I] just got some self-belief back.”

“I’m backing myself in at times and that still needs to be improved, but [I’ll] take that forward into next year and hopefully go again.”

It was also just the second time in six AFL seasons Bail has reached a double-figure game tally – his 21 matches in 2014 bettered his 18 in 2012 – and he said Paul Roos was a big support for him.

But he also strongly endorsed previous coaches he had over his journey at Melbourne.  

“Dean Bailey, Mark Neeld and Roosy [have all had belief in me], but I’ve had injury-interrupted [seasons] and I’ve had my share of poor form as well – and been dropped from sides. But I’ve never felt like I haven’t had confidence from coaches,” he said.

“The players really bought into Roosy’s [game plan]. We did really well in the first half of the year.

“Personally, athletically, I’m not too bad and that ability gives me the opportunity to play some different roles. I’ve got to still play my role and try to perform, but he (Roos) backed me in.”

With 65 matches to his name, Bail said he was “really excited” about 2015 and was optimistic about the team’s fortunes and his prospects.

“I’m feeling confident that we can improve and I can improve as well, so I’m very excited,” he said.

“I’m not that young any more, but I feel really confident within the group and I get along with everyone.”

“It’s bringing that confidence out in team meetings and on the field to have my say when I need to. If I consistently perform, then I can back that up, so I’ll keep working on that.”