BRANDON Matera is as talented and exciting as he is frustrating and irritating.

He is an enigma Gold Coast is still trying to solve after six seasons.

The diminutive forward has enough skill to be one of the best in his position in the competition, yet often lets himself down with below-par work-rate.

Now 24 and with 85 games to his name, Matera has again endured a frustrating season.

He was dropped to the NEAFL earlier this year, a clear message from coach Rodney Eade that he wasn't doing enough.

His defensive pressure was almost non-existent, and even his usually reliable skills had dropped off.

But in the past month, the pendulum has swung back towards the productive, spark plug version of the knockabout West Australian.

With tall timber Tom Lynch and Peter Wright providing aerial targets, Matera has profited at their feet, averaging 15 disposals and kicking eight goals over the past four matches.

He said being dropped was a wake-up call.

"Defensive pressure and my kicking efficiency was down – they were my two big messages," Matera said.

"I learnt my lesson and went back and worked on it as much as I could.

"The last four games have been really good, probably on the back of us forward line playing together as a group, the continuity of getting to know each other.

"The big guys have been pretty good, made our job a lot easier."

While the midfield has been smashed by injuries, Matera says continuity with forwards, including first-year Suns Ryan Davis and Callum Ah Chee, has helped him learn leading patterns and where to stand at stoppages.

Eade is pleased with Matera's progression, and with a year remaining on his contract, the small forward says he expects a big six weeks to finish the season and a bumper 2017.

"We've got the right personnel here," he said.

"Rocket's come in with a good game-plan.

"I'm really excited.

"It's come to a point where we're sick of losing. We want to go up the ladder.

"We've got all the stuff in place, it's a matter of getting everyone on the track and playing together and getting that continuity.

"We need to use this six weeks as a stepping stone."