"KEEP flying for your marks."

That has been the continued instruction from Geelong's coaching staff to developing forward Shane Kersten as he looks to establish himself in Geelong's best 22.

The faith shown in Kersten, 23, is paying off after he booted a career-high four goals in the Cats' 120-point victory over Gold Coast at Simonds Stadium.

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"I've just been told to fly for my marks. I don't want to be jumping into ‘Hawk’ (Tom Hawkins) too much because he's the main man up there and we can't forget that," Kersten said.

"I'm just happy to do my bit and whatever that is I'm happy to keep doing it."

Kersten is also benefiting from a less interrupted pre-season with knee, hip and hamstring troubles limiting his output in the past.

"My last couple of pre-seasons I've only completed 30-odd per cent of them," Kersten said.

"This year I think I was up around the 80 or 90 per cent mark. I'm getting to a lot more contests and I'm running out games a lot better."

Kersten has underrated endurance, in fact towards the end of the pre-season the powerful youngster – who stands at 191cm and 92kg – had joined the midfield running group, consisting of the likes of Patrick Dangerfield, Mark Blicavs and Mitch Duncan.

Cats coach Chris Scott has long been an admirer of Kersten and has stuck by him throughout his 24 games since making his debut in round one, 2014.

The Cats have been rapt with his defensive work, particularly on Hawthorn's Josh Gibson in round one to prevent him spoiling as a third-man up, as well as the job he did on Giant Heath Shaw in round two.

But now that Kersten is starting to hit the scoreboard regularly, he becomes a more dangerous proposition.

"I don't feel like he has to repay us, we've had faith in him for reasons other than purely altruistic ones - we're not a charity at our footy club, we invest in the guys who we think are going to pay off in the end," Scott said.

"The pay off with Shane will come in the future."

Kersten feels settled at the level, now.

"As I get a bit of continuity in my football I'm getting that confidence that I feel like I belong here," he said.