GOLD Coast full-back Nathan Bock is mounting a compelling case for inclusion in this year's All Australian team.
Suns coach Guy McKenna believes he's in the frame, and while the man himself is loath to beat his own drum, Bock believes his form is rivalling that of 2008 when he won All Australian selection as an Adelaide Crow.
Full-back is always a hotly contested position and Bock faces stiff competition from West Coast's Darren Glass and Geelong's Matthew Scarlett, while injury may have robbed Carlton's Michael Jamison of a chance after some brilliant early season form.
Bock added further weight to his case against St Kilda on Saturday night, keeping Justin Koschitzke quiet for three quarters before moving forward in the last term to try and spark the Suns.
He also racked up midfield-like numbers with 28 disposals and 10 marks.
The previous week Bock kept red-hot Magpie Travis Cloke to two goals, which came hot on the heels of restricting Coleman medallist Jack Riewoldt to one goal.
After an injury-disrupted pre-season, McKenna believes Bock had his colours lowered once or twice early in the season, but rarely since.
His real value was shown in losses against Hawthorn and Fremantle when Lance Franklin and Matthew Pavlich struggled to get a kick with Bock shadowing them, only to burst free with three goals each when the ill defender took five minutes on the sideline.
"I remember seeing him in 2008 when he was in All Australian form and he's not far off it. Given the side he's in, it's an even better result," McKenna said after the round 18 match against Collingwood.
"He's played on some big brutes and the best forward from the opposition and he's done a fantastic job and has done all year, under duress too. The first part of the season the ball was coming in on the forward's terms too, not his."
Bock agrees that it's his best form since 2008 and said being part of the Suns' leadership group in their first season had been a big factor.
"Back in '08 I think my first half of the year was probably better so it's sort of been a little bit reversed in some sense," Bock said.
"But I'd say at this time of year I'm probably in better form than I was back then. My pre-season was a little bit interrupted so it probably affected the first half of my year.
"Having that responsibility as a senior player and being part of the leadership group with 'Gaz', 'Browny' and myself, we really take that responsibility to lead from the front and set the standard with our performances and I think we've got to continue to do that and help drive the young fellas along."
Michael Whiting covers Gold Coast news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @mike_whiting
Bock to the future
Gold Coast full-back Nathan Bock believes he is in better form than 2008, the year he won All Australian selection at Adelaide