FOUR games into his AFL return, Essendon midfielder David Myers is still searching for his best football.
He wasn't too disheartened with what he described as a slight step back in performance against Richmond at the MCG after three encouraging weeks on the trot.
Myers has reason to remain confident the instinctive moves that made his swinging left foot such a dangerous prospect in 2014 and 2015 will return.
He is doing the work and is physically sound but after just two games – both cut short with injury – in two years during 2015 and 2016, patience is required.
"[I'm] still game-wise obviously getting into the swing of it," Myers told AFL.com.au.
"[I'm] not where I want to be at the moment, but [I'm] trying to work on my game."
The level-headed Bomber did not make his long-awaited comeback until round seven when he ran out against Fremantle at Domain Stadium after a finger tendon injury delayed his season.
He took time ahead of the warm-up that night to reacquaint himself with the ground in the state he left in 2007 as a 17-year-old to join Essendon.
"I didn't want the first time to [familiarise myself being] when the ball got thrown up. I did want to tick that box early, so yeah, it was nice," Myers said.
His season-long ban, a European summer holiday and the emotions that ran like corrugated iron at the end of 2015 were now behind him and he could once again play the game he loved with a free mind.
"I felt like, 'I am back doing what you are paid to do and what you have committed your life to doing so far'," Myers said.
He has noticed subtle changes in the game with the pressure higher than he remembered it being. The interchange cap has also meant more time on the ground and, obviously, his teammates have changed.
"You learn to play with different guys and instinctively make decisions around the ball based on who is there because you know what their habits are," Myers said.
"That just takes time. You can't rush that."
But it's a challenge he is enjoying, given the X-factor some of those new faces, such as Orazio Fantasia, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and Josh Green, have added with their zip, pace and goal sense.
"I wouldn't want to defend them," Myers said.
This week, he heads interstate to play Greater Western Sydney, a team that established itself as premiership favourite while Myers was in footballing exile.
He is keen to see his team tested against that level of competition because it's where he wants Essendon to be as soon as possible: in premiership contention.
"That is why we came back because we thought we could win one with this club and the list and everything we had in place," Myers said.
"That is why we are here. We're not here for any other reason."
The firm statement from the commerce student indicates he has unfinished business.
But right now, he's enjoying just being back in the football flow, a return to the feeling he had when the game was fun.
"It's just footy. It's nice being back in the swing and enjoying all that goes with it."
