DEVELOPING synergy within St Kilda's new-look forward line is top of Tim Membrey's goals for 2015, with the former Sydney Swan keen to show he belongs at AFL level.
It's easy to forget Membrey is almost as new to senior football as his young teammate Paddy McCartin, despite two years in the AFL system.
But the 20-year-old arrived at St Kilda having played just one game, with the Swans' myriad experienced forwards providing tough competition.
Now, the tattooed goalkicker wants to make sure he remains part of the Saints' new-look forward line, which has been trying to find its feet without captain Nick Riewoldt in the past two weeks.
"I always thought I could play at the level – it's just a matter of being able to crack in, get a couple of games under my belt and settle in," Membrey told AFL.com.au.
"I know it's completely up to me whether I go out of the side or stay in.
"I've just got make sure I'm doing my thing for the team with the pressure, forcing their backs to kick the ball under pressure and give our midfielders and defenders the opportunity to keep getting repeat entries.
"If I'm coming off the ground and I'm doing that and I'm happy with my effort, there's going to be a spot there for me in the side."
There's been plenty of focus on the Saints' forward line this season.
There's McCartin, the No.1 draft pick, who debuted so unexpectedly after being called up from the emergency list an hour before the round-three clash with Collingwood that his parents had to make a mad dash to the MCG.
There's Riewoldt, whose injured calf made way for McCartin and has kept him out of two games to date.
There's Jack Lonie, the surprise packet of the Saints' 2014 draft haul who keeps demanding to be picked because of his relentless forward pressure and tackling efforts.
And, there's Josh Bruce, who has swapped ends after being recruited from Greater Western Sydney as a defender in 2013.
Among all those sits Membrey, who despite two eye-catching tattoo sleeves has managed to quietly slip into the team.
That doesn't bother the Traralgon native, who is living in Melbourne’s bayside suburb Mentone but heads home to Gippsland when he can to indulge in his favourite pastime of hunting.
When it became known he was keen on leaving the Swans where senior games where hard to come by, clubs enquired after him.
There were "a few" from Melbourne, where ideally Membrey wanted to head, but only one he really wanted to speak to.
An impressive presentation from Alan Richardson and a chat with Riewoldt – where Membrey did most of the talking – sealed his decision.
"I asked him about the leaders and the leadership group and the development team because I'm still a young player as well and it's only my third year," Membrey recalled.
"So I just wanted to make sure they were all across that at the club and what other players there were in the forward line and who I would be competing with for spots.
The statistics from the opening four games don't show domination from Membrey but his work rate and ability to get from contest to contest has impressed.
It would have been easy to have become frustrated at the Swans where, despite kicking goals all over the NEAFL, he remained stuck behind their star-studded forward line.
But Membrey maintained a level of belief he could – and would – match it with the elite when he got his chance.
"It's something I've just stuck at for the two years I was at the Swans, knowing how it all works and how much effort you have to actually put in to play and be a consistent AFL footballer," he said.
"When I arrived here I just really wanted to continue that mentality and start playing some consistent footy and start on my career.
"I know it's just about coming off at the end of the game having goals I've set during the week and being able to tick them off, and hopefully get on the end of a couple of goals as well."
Membrey's first tattoo – a koi fish inked on his ribs three years ago – ignited a love for the art and saw him design many of the images that adorn his arms.
He always wanted one colourful sleeve and one black and grey one, which feature things like a palm tree, a ship, an anchor and a panther, and a "Mexican gangster-style" with skulls and the "see no evil, hear no evil" motif on the other one.
"There's no real meaning behind them. I wanted to join them up," he said.
"I think I might have been 17 when I got my first one and from there I've just enjoyed them."
There are more on the cards, likely starting with his chest later this year, but he isn't sure if he'll go to Dane Swan-like levels.
But before any new ink, Membrey knows there's plenty of work to do this season.
He's loved working with Riewoldt and has learned plenty from watching the captain during the week.
And he's hoping he can help McCartin as they grow together into the future centrepieces of St Kilda's forward line.
"It just takes time. Some people are lucky to come to an AFL club and be gifted games straight away but it does take a couple of years for you to settle in and get a good fitness base behind you," he said.
"Paddy's a big strong boy and he's got to manage what he can and can't do in his first year in terms of workloads.
"There's a lot of talent in our forward line with Brucey and Paddy so hopefully we can build some synergy and really start playing some good team footy."
