Lynden Dunn has vowed to "prove the haters wrong" and play on at AFL level for another three or four years, and has also revealed he's eyeing a possible NFL punting career once he hangs up his footy boots.
Dunn, one of Casey's best in Sunday's VFL grand final loss to Western Bulldogs, only played four senior matches for Melbourne in 2016, having averaged 20 per year over the past four seasons.
The key defender, 29, is contracted for next year and believes he's capable of playing beyond the end of that deal. But - with reports of interest at rival clubs -- he conceded he wasn't sure whether that would be for the Demons, or elsewhere.
'I love playing footy. My season didn't go as planned - to play only four [AFL] games is disappointing but I'm not the first person to be in this position and I won't be the last," Dunn told ESPN in a sombre Casey changerooms at Etihad Stadium.
"I'm certainly not going to roll over and let my career dwindle away - I'm looking forward to getting back and playing senior AFL footy. I need a break, it's been a long year, but I still think I've got three or four years left of AFL footy. Hopefully I can prove the haters wrong."
The 165-game veteran said the thought of finishing as a one-club player was appealing, but added he had to weigh up all his options if it became clear he may struggle for senior opportunities at the Demons next season.
"Being a one-club player has always been very important to me. But I've got to sit down with my family and go through a few things," he said. "I don't want to leave but there might be an opportunity elsewhere - I'll have to look at that. But I haven't thought about it yet as I've been focusing on trying to win a VFL premiership, which didn't happen.
"I've been around 12 years now - what you see is what you get. I need to keep backing myself in and tidy up a few areas but I'm still confident I can play at the highest level. I turn 30 next year but that doesn't mean a great deal - blokes are running around who are almost 40 these days, so I'm looking forward to having a break and weighing everything up."
Dunn did his best to keep the Bulldogs at bay in Sunday's VFL grand final, repeatedly repelling their advances before the weight of numbers eventually took their toll.
He was involved in plenty of niggle during the contest, and also showcased his powerful kick to be one of the Scorpions' best.
Dunn confirmed to ESPN he was considering a NFL punting career, but stressed he would only go down that path once his AFL career was over.
"It's in the back of my mind, definitely," he said. "I've always said I'll never cut my AFL career short because I love the game and I love our club, but if that opportunity arose, I would [look at it].
"I've got a bit of work to do though - I think I tried to kick about eight barrels today and shanked all of them, so hopefully no one was watching them ... but it's definitely an interest of mine. And you certainly don't have to run as far, being a punter, which is exciting as I'm sick of running in pre-seasons.
"It's an interest, but how far I pursue that, I'll wait and see."