A HARD-RUNNING St Kilda forward booted five goals against Carlton a fortnight ago to help lead his side to victory. 

That statement would generally bring Nick Riewoldt to mind. The Saints champion had long been the focus of attacking forays, and it was upon his shoulders that the club's hopes of posting a decent score rested.

Until 2016.

This year, Tim Membrey is the man most prominent for St Kilda in regards to kicking goals. He is ranked No. 5 in the competition for goals per game, ahead of Jeremy Cameron, Eddie Betts and Jack Riewoldt.

When the Saints faced the Blues, the captain wasn't even present, and neither was the skipper's fellow former No. 1 selection Paddy McCartin.

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It wasn't a one-off effort from Membrey either. Through his seven matches this season, he has twice bagged five goals and thrice kicked three.

It is a remarkable improvement from an individual who, prior to 2016, had never previously registered more than two goals in a game.

His consistency is built upon the principle of taking advantage of every single day.

"Coming into my fourth year now, I just wanted to not necessarily waste another year," Membrey told AFL.com.au.

"I just wanted to make sure that if I wasn't getting a game or wasn't in the side, I could at least sleep easy at night knowing I've done all the work."

That lift in output was made difficult for the 22-year-old. A dislocated right shoulder at the end of last season required a reconstruction, putting him out of full training until February.

With the former Sydney Swan's pre-season encumbered, Membrey was initially concerned about the impact the surgery could have on his season.

"I was a bit cautious of not being able to do the contact and the physical side of things, but I tried to look at it as a bit of a positive, because I'd just be doing a lot more running – which is what I was hoping to do – and just be able to come out of it fitter, and a bit leaner as well," Membrey said.

It was a slow start to the year for Membrey, and he didn't work his way into the team until Paddy McCartin was rested for the round six contest against Melbourne.

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Membrey took advantage of the opportunity with five goals, consistently marking the ball behind Melbourne's defence.

The fitness of the 188cm forward was critical to his performance that day, and he said it was the primary reason for the excellent form he has thus far produced.

"Getting plenty of k's in the legs, it just allowed me to use the strengths of running," he said.

"I think that's what's come off the back of playing some good footy: just honest work rate out there."

For any forward looking to develop his tank at St Kilda, Riewoldt is the obvious inspiration, with the all-time great possessing a legendary work ethic. Membrey is certainly aware of his skipper's ability to burn off defenders with continuous bursts of sprints, and that was a trait he wanted to emulate.

"It's OK to be able to run all day, but it's being able to change speeds and being able to go from a jogging pace to being able to hit that high-intensity running," he said.

"Just being able to do that more consistently throughout the game is what's helped me."

With Riewoldt spending almost all his time on a wing, the opportunity has arisen for Membrey, McCartin and Josh Bruce to make the forward 50 their own.

Having only lined up together six times heading into the clash with Geelong on Saturday night, there is plenty of development left for the young trio, which Membrey recognises.

"Brucey, Paddy and myself have been able to work out ways that we can play to each other's strengths, whether that's kicking the ball to a one-on-one contest with Paddy, and hitting Brucey up on the lead and over his head," Membrey said.

"We're starting to jell together a lot more and I think the more games we're able to play together, we'll keep jelling and really start to build something special down there."

For that progression to continue, Membrey needs to add further aspects to his game. He wants to become more versatile in the manner he gains possession of the ball.

"I don't want to be just a taller forward. I want to be someone who can be dangerous at ground level and be one of those players that's an awkward match-up with their height," he said.