STUCK ON the fringe of Geelong's all-conquering team for the past four seasons, ruckman Trent West was delighted just to get a call-up for the clash with Richmond at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
But after collecting 14 possessions and booting two goals in the Cats' 62-point win, he may have taken pole position among the Cats' many back-up big men.
"It's great to get the opportunity," said West, who has played only 13 AFL games since making his debut in 2008.
"I've had an interrupted year with injury, but it is good to get a chance up here with the big boys and to see what it's all about.
"I just wanted to do my part for the team really and try my best to hold my spot."
West was called into the Geelong side for its game against the Brisbane Lions after first-choice ruckman Brad Ottens was suspended following the Cats' loss to the Eagles in round 16.
When Ottens was also ruled out of the meeting with the Tigers due to knee soreness, West was given another chance, which he seized with both hands.
"I rated it pretty highly," Geelong coach Chris Scott said of the 23-year-old's performance.
"We thought he was pretty competitive last week. He didn't get a lot of the ball, although he played his role within the team really well.
"We thought the signs were positive again today.
"He hasn’t had much of a go, Westy. In that respect I feel for him because he's been playing well enough at VFL level to force his way in."
Given West had booted only three goals in his career before the game against Richmond, his two-goal haul had him smiling broadly in the rooms afterwards.
"It was great to sneak forward and take a couple of grabs and kick a couple," he said.
"It's always great fun to get on the scoreboard."
Ottens and Nathan Vardy, who was ruled out of the Richmond game with hamstring soreness, are both expected to return in the coming fortnight, so West will then head back to the VFL and hope he gets another chance at the business end of the season.
"Such is the way the game's played at the moment, when you're behind Brad Ottens in the ruck, and we've already got two key forwards in front of him, it's very hard for that extra ruckman to force his way into the side," Scott explained.
"But Westy's taken his chance in the last couple of weeks and that's all he can do."
Given the amount of time he has spent in the VFL, West is likely to chased by a number of rival clubs when trade week rolls around in October.
And while Richmond is among the clubs desperate to secure a ruckman, he's trying no to focus on any trade talk for the moment.
"I haven't thought about other teams at all," West said. "I'm living in the moment and doing what I can to stay in the team."