COLLINGWOOD small forward Jarryd Blair is happy to pile the pressure on himself as he fights to stay ahead of the pack of talented youngsters at the Magpies.
Blair is keen to put an up and down 2014 season behind him, and throughout the summer has focused on boosting his scoreboard impact.
Recent first-round draftees Nathan Freeman and Jordan De Goey are pushing for round-one berths as Collingwood's side undergoes renewal.
"I always feel pressure," Blair said at the Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo on the club's Australia Post Community Camp.
"There's a lot of talent coming out of the junior ranks these days.
"But I do also think, that for my career, it's a pretty big year for me.
"To go on record to say that probably adds a bit more pressure, but I'm really looking forward to it and I'm pretty confident in the work that I've done."
The 24-year-old had his first hit-out of the pre-season in Collingwood's seven-point loss to Carlton in Bendigo.
He kicked two goals from 10 disposals and provided some zip the Magpies were lacking elsewhere.
Blair said a chat with coach Nathan Buckley before the Pies' first NAB Challenge game against Hawthorn made it clear how critical it was to perform.
"I had conversations with Bucks about that game and he said 'You know, I'm not going to shy away from the fact that we're going to have a look at a lot of guys through there (the forward line)'.
"It's understandable. We've got a fairly talented list at the moment and they're pressures I've dealt with since day one.
"It's nothing I'll shy away from and it's a good challenge to stay in front of these younger kids."
Blair is looking forward to a more defined role under new forwards coach Steve Grace and concedes his days through the midfield are probably numbered.
"I've embraced that forward role a little bit more. I've always had aspirations to go through the midfield, but it just comes a point where it's pretty tough to get in there," he said.
"I'd like to pinch hit through there, and it helps you stay in the game. It can be a tough task, at times, getting a kick on that half-forward line.
"You're starved of opportunities, maybe, but I'm looking forward to embracing hitting the scoreboard a little bit more."
Blair, who is renowned for his forward pressure, said he needed to kick more goals this year to lighten the load on spearhead Travis Cloke and emerging star forward Jamie Elliott.
"Scoreboard impact is something I've focused on pretty heavily all summer and it's something I really need to improve on.
"I play predominantly forward and in the past I haven't kicked a lot of goals."
Blair has played 102 games in five seasons on Collingwood's list and was part of the Magpies' 2010 premiership side.
Jarryd Blair is a $398,000 forward in NAB AFL Fantasy this year
