JACK Steven will become a better player quicker as a result of the attention he is receiving as St Kilda's prime midfielder, according to coach Alan Richardson.
After winning last year's best and fairest, and following the departure of Brendon Goddard and Nick Dal Santo in recent years, Steven has become the go-to player for opposition taggers.
The 24-year-old has acknowledged the added attention he's received and has made improving his ability to cope with it his goal this season.
Richardson believes the hard-working youngster has been challenged by it but has also learned how to forego his own game when he gets locked down on.
"There are times when it frustrates him – he wants to be the man and wants to have an influence in the game, and we do too because he's got great speed and endurance," Richardson told AFL.com.au.
"For all the reasons we want him to have the ball, that's why the opposition is going to him.
"One thing that's been so impressive for a young bloke is he's sacrificed his role for the team so if they're going to tag him, we'll manipulate a situation where perhaps Jack goes to someone else and we get someone free.
"He's bought into that. He's a really committed young footballer, he wants to get the best out of himself, he wants the team to be successful and he trains as hard as anyone.
"He's a beauty and he'll be better for it."
Such is Steven's explosive yet enduring speed, Collingwood tagger Brent Macaffer identified the young Saint as the toughest he's played on this season.
The Magpie, who has taken several big scalps including Dal Santo, Marc Murphy and Jobe Watson this year, believes he only managed to break even with Steven in round 11.
Steven said he had accepted it was something he was just going to have to adapt to as it happened most weeks, with West Coast's Sharrod Wellingham the latest to apply a tag – albeit a loose one - on him last Sunday.
"It's definitely harder being the focus but all the other mids cop it each week so you've just got to get used to it," Steven said.
"I enjoy it and I've just got to learn from it really.
"I've copped a bit more attention and I've just got to learn to deal with it."
Having missed the opening three rounds because of a pre-season fracture in his right sesamoid bone, Steven had to work his way into form this season.
He went down with the non-surgical injury in late February and missed a month of training.
He started slowly and dipped in form in round eight, where he managed just 15 touches against Carlton and Richardson questioned whether he needed a rest.
But he played the following week and responded with 31 touches and two goals against Gold Coast.
"I'm starting to feel alright. I'll just keep chipping away," he said, following the Saints' round 14 loss to the Eagles.
"I think I've got some more run in my legs left so hopefully I'll finish off the season well."
As for the Saints' season, which has entered into a run of eight consecutive losses, Steven conceded it was getting tough to mentally respond each week.
He said a light week on the track after the 96-point Geelong loss, which Richardson revealed involved a group dinner and viewing of the State of Origin match, had broken things up and boosted morale.
He also said the players were accepting of the fact it was going to take time for consistent progression to come.
"We've just got to keep improving – in every aspect of the game, pretty much," he said.
"We've got to keep working hard and keep chipping away.
"Jack Billings has a great game [against West Coast] and the young players are all going to get more confidence - the more confidence they get, they're going to play the way they know they can play.
"Getting those games into them is crucial.
"We're just got to wait it out a bit."
