HAVING battled for three years to see a “light at the end of the tunnel” in his AFL career, former Fremantle Dockers ruckman Craig Moller is now clear about the way forward.

It’s via the hardwood of a basketball court rather than the grass of a footy field.

Moller, 21, is confident of securing a berth on an NBL roster next season as he looks to achieve the rare feat of playing at the top level in two sports.

The 203cm NSW product conceded it had been difficult being behind Aaron Sandilands, Jon Griffin, Zac Clarke and Jack Hannath in Fremantle’s talented ruck pecking order, registering a sole senior game in 2013 before being delisted late last year.

“Hindsight’s a wonderful thing. Looking at it now, with Sandilands and big Jon Griffin and Clarkey, they’re top-calibre ruckmen in the AFL,” Moller told The Sunday Times.

“At times it was difficult playing for Peel every week and not really seeing a light at the end of the tunnel.

“But ruckmen normally don’t get to their best until they’re in their mid-20s, and I was still very young and understood that.

“I feel I developed a lot as a person. It wasn’t as if I just wasted a couple of years. It’s definitely benefited me.”

Moller played both sports until the age of 14, when the Dockers signed the dreadlocked tall under the NSW scholarship scheme.

“I don’t know if I liked it (basketball) more, but I was probably slightly better at it,” Moller said.

“It was such a good opportunity in the AFL so I took it when I could, and I’m happy that I did.

“But I’m happy now to be back playing basketball. It wasn’t something I thought of doing until Fremantle made the decision to delist me.”

Moller had interest from other AFL clubs last spring but opted out of the draft process to chase his hoops dream.

His decision was vindicated when a junior basketball mentor put him in contact with the coaching staff at the Sydney Kings, where he’s become a full-time training squad member.

“The AFL training has helped me with things like defence and rebounding and the athletic side of the game, so having that good strength and endurance base has definitely helped the transition,” he said.

“I feel like I’m just starting to get my shooting touch back — it probably took me longer than I thought it would.

“The one thing I used to have in the arsenal which is quite good is my outside shot.

“I can take the big (defenders) outside, and that was my weapon.

“Developing that again is the main key and that’s where my strength will come from.”

Having missed out on an injury replacement berth at the Kings this week, Moller plans to ply his trade in NSW’s Waratah League over winter before chasing a roster spot as a forward in an expanded NBL next season.

“I’m more than aware of what’s ahead of me and the hard work that I’ve got to put in, but I’ve got a belief that I can do it,” he said.

Follow Chris Robinson on Twitter: @CJKRobinson