HAVING made his AFL debut in round three, re-signed with Port Adelaide last week and then named best against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday, you'd think Brendon Ah Chee would be content with his 2015.
But he's been the substitute in five of his eight games this year – he hasn't cemented a starting position.
That's his next focus after a breakout performance against the Giants in which he collected 25 possessions and three goals.
"I'm happy, but having said that, I've played eight games and five have of them have been as the sub so I've sort of been that 22nd player picked," Ah Chee said.
"I won't be really satisfied until I'm playing consistent, full games of AFL footy.
"Obviously I'm going to be sticking around the club for another year so [I'll get] another pre-season under the belt and really just work hard on being the inside mid and hopefully next year I can crack into the 22."
His discontent is motivation – the 21-year-old is incredibly happy just to still work in an AFL environment.
He believed the club had every right to end his dream of playing senior footy when injury problems left him as a prospect with huge potential but precious little to show for it.
Surgery to fix patella tendinitis carved slabs from his pre-seasons leading into 2013 and 2014 but he's remained injury free this year and after re-signing for next season, he's hoping to take another leap in his development this summer.
"I started behind the eight-ball the last couple of years; to be right in the thick of it from the get-go, doing the full pre-season just does confidence a world of good," he said.
"Confidence is just a massive thing in AFL footy and that's what I got from doing a full pre-season.
"The best thing about [the new deal] is that I could have easily been delisted ... but the Port Adelaide footy club has shown so much faith in me that I have to give back, I just feel like I owe the club so much.
"Whenever I run out it's just a blessing I'm still here."
Ah Chee also took a brilliant mark in the third quarter on Saturday night, earning him a nomination for mark of the week.
The hanger followed an even more spectacular grab taken by his younger brother Callum while playing for the WA Academy side at the MCG earlier this year.
WATCH: Callum Ah Chee's incredible MCG hanger
Although conceding Callum had the more impressive leap, Ah Chee said that until his younger brother took one at AFL level he'd consider himself the superior high-flyer.
"I'd have to give him the hanger award because he's taken them from a young age. He's a bit of an athletic freak," he said.
"[But] I think if you do it on the big stage it looks a little bit better, so until he's at an AFL team, if he gets to an AFL team, I think I've probably got that – I'll take that."
Going up ... Callum Ah Chee soars over teammates at the MCG. Picture: Darrian Traynor, AFL Media
