STAYING out on the park remains recruit Will Hoskin-Elliott's simple objective in 2017 after an impressive first-up showing for the Magpies on Thursday night.
After five inconsistent, injury-interrupted and ultimately frustrating years at Greater Western Sydney, the former No.4 selection knows not much can be achieved from the stands.
So when he is asked what he needs to do this season to realise the precocious talent he carries within his skinny arms and lean legs, he avoids suggesting anything too extravagant.
"[It's] just to play more than a handful of games … just to stay out on the park," Hoskin-Elliott told AFL.com.au.
"So far I have had a pretty successful pre-season so that is a big help."
Such reluctance to look too far ahead is understandable for the man who has assumed the No.32 Travis Cloke wore in 246 games with the Magpies.
He played just two senior games in his final season at the Giants as quad and hamstring problems kept him out of the AFL team as it roared into its first preliminary final.
A strong performance in the club's NEAFL premiership was his final act at the Giants before he was traded to Collingwood for a future second-round draft pick in October.
The decision to return to Melbourne where he grew up barracking for the Magpies was a no-brainer for Hoskin-Elliott, who had another year on his contract with the Giants to run.
"Obviously [I] just wanted a fresh start. [It was] nothing but injuries up there [at the Giants] for my five years so thought I would come home, be around family and friends and hopefully just get my footy right on field," Hoskin-Elliott said.
He has now banked one solid performance in the black and white colours although showing good signs spasmodically has never been the issue with Hoskin-Elliott.
Once again flashes of brilliance emerged on Thursday night.
A long goal around the body in the first quarter after creating space around the 50m arc with an old-fashioned give and go was classy.
He then ensured his overall performance remained at the forefront of supporters' minds when he drifted across a pack like a falling leaf to pluck a one-handed mark late in the last quarter and kicked a goal.
"He keeps putting his hand up," coach Nathan Buckley said, inadvertently matching his phrase with the action he'd just witnessed.
The mark was one of Hoskin-Elliott's four contested possessions for the night, with his role predominantly outside, on the wing, or on a flank either forward or back.
The hyphen provides the Magpies' list with a dash of something special. If he can deliver consistently he can make a mark on the competition.
"[I'll] just see where I fit into the Magpies' colours and go from there," Hoskin-Elliott said.
