A YEAR ago, almost to the day, Jack Billings was dropped from St Kilda's team. It came after a heavy Saints loss in round 11, in the middle of the period where the talented youngster was struggling with an ankle injury, and as a bit of a surprise.
Billings was omitted after his debut in the opening round of 2014, but that was after he was a substitute and had only played limited game time. This was the first time he had ever really been cut, and he quickly made up his mind it would also be the last. "I was pretty shattered," Billings told AFL.com.au.
To say the moment is still driving the 21-year-old would be a slight stretch. He went back to the VFL with the Sandringham Zebras, dominated, was recalled to the Saints' senior side and has played in St Kilda's past 17 games. But there's no denying the experience has served as a lasting reminder for Billings.
"It was disappointing at the time. I was pretty determined when I came back to get back into form quickly," he said. "I look at it now as maybe a good thing that happened as it kept me on my toes again. I had the realisation that every single week you've got to be at your best. I carried that through the summer and I've tried to take it into this season as well."
Twelve months on from that point, Billings is halfway through what is becoming a career-best year. The important Saint took a few weeks to hit his straps but a shift to more of a half-forward role in recent games has seen him produce some game-breaking performances. But a switch hasn't just been flicked; Billings believes his form is a work in progress that he feels is still far from complete.
It started last off-season, the first of Billings' career in which his body allowed him to complete the fitness program given to him by the club. But that formed only part of his work. He spent more time with a boxing coach, and trained closely with Saints teammate, and childhood friend, Jack Sinclair.
"One of his main attributes is his running, so it was good to train a lot with him and we made it enjoyable. I didn't miss a session over summer," Billings said.
"There was a fair bit of stuff written about me that I'd had a really bad year last year. But my numbers were still OK. I had high expectations and the positive was how much improvement I had in me going into the summer and the next season.
"So straight away as soon as last season finished that's pretty much all I focused on. I didn't really care what people thought. When I got back to pre-season I was in pretty good nick and all the boys and coaches were great."
Billings spent much of the pre-season working on his running. Picture: AFL Photos
He has started to see the benefits. Billings has combined his best qualities – his marking, kicking and sharp thinking – with more tackling and an improved engine, allowing him to impact games in different ways.
Coach Alan Richardson's move of Billings to a more focused half-forward position has worked. He kicked two goals from 22 disposals in the Saints' win over Greater Western Sydney, backed it up with five goals and 30 disposals against Carlton in a brilliant showing, and then gathered a career-high 32 touches against Sydney in round nine.
Billings caught himself over-thinking things last season. But by breaking down what he needs to do, how to do it, and learning not to worry if it doesn't work straight away, he has noticed a difference. "I'd try to do all the right things and sometimes it became too much. I did a bit of work in that space trying to simplify that," he said.
"After being in the system for a few years I've realised that's what works for me. I think most players are the same. You want to run out there being really clear about what you want to do, what your role is for the team, rather than worrying about various things you might've been told from different people."
Billings isn't a stranger to the spotlight, having entered the competition as an early draft choice. He was a back-to-back All Australian at under-18 level, and the Saints used their No.3 pick on him at the 2013 NAB AFL Draft. Melbourne traded pick No.2 to Greater Western Sydney that year, but would have taken Billings over Josh Kelly with that selection had they kept it.
What we said about Billings before the 2013 draft
The Bulldogs, too, would likely have taken the classy left-footer with pick No.4 if he was still available. In the end, with Billings already off the board they didn't have that call to make, and went with Marcus Bontempelli. Billings knows pressure comes at the top level no matter where you get selected, and says he doesn't feel any extra just because of the players picked around him.
"You learn to deal with it more and more and it doesn't really faze me. It's a little bit clichéd, but I'm in a great environment at the club with my teammates and coaches, and obviously my family and friends, and everyone's really supportive," he said.
"It doesn't annoy me at all. If you let it annoy you that's where things could go wrong, so it's been fine."
Billings was a cut above the rest in under-18s footy. Picture: AFL Photos
There are still things Billings wants to work on. His goalkicking is a focus, having kicked 16.24 in his past 27 games. Richardson has urged him to go back to how he kicked as a 12-year-old: simple, precise and uncomplicated.
His first three-and-a-half years in the AFL have gone quickly – it feels a long time ago for Billings that he ran out alongside Saints great Lenny Hayes in 2014 – but he knows there is plenty of improvement left.
"I'm progressing OK and playing some strong footy. But I think I can definitely take my game to the next level in the second half of this year and I really want to win some games and play finals for the first time," Billings said.
Billings is out of contract at the end of this year but sees his future with the club. "I'm not really involved with [the contract], but I'm hoping to get something done soon," he said.
He views the Saints' future as bright. After promising form, St Kilda's past two games were disappointing – heavy losses to Sydney and the Western Bulldogs. But they are perched at 5-5 after 10 games and back from the bye (Billings refreshed by heading to Broome with his family) they face another challenge against Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
"We're doing a lot of right things, but the competition's so even," he said. "We can definitely make the finals, but we need to get back to playing the way we know we can. We went away from that the last couple of weeks so we need to knuckle down and focus on that. Every week's a big game."
Billings has found his niche as a prolific high half-forward. Picture: AFL Photos
