JARRAD Waite says his adaptability is evidence of the new methods being used at junior levels.

Waite, who played as a forward for the Blues until this season, has recently developed a taste for life down the other end of the field after coach Denis Pagan tried him in a key defensive role during the pre-season.

Waite attributed his ability to adapt to the new role to the fact he was given opportunities around the field during his junior footy years.

"I was always forward when I was younger and I got thrown into the midfield and down back in under-18s," he told carltonfc.com.au after Friday's loss to the Saints.

"The way footy is going these days, in the juniors, you get thrown around everywhere, which is really good because it gives you the ability to play different positions.

"There's not really the days anymore where you play one position that's just yours. It's really good for the game and it's going to help the young kids grow. It's going to help [the team] as well."

The 24-year-old said he is learning how to reverse the tactics he used to employ on the forward line.

"It's a tough caper, defence. You have your good games and you have your bad games, but I enjoy it," he said.

"It's a bit of fun. It's so different to playing forward, as up there you have someone following you around. When you're down back, it's the opposite and you have to follow someone around.

"They take you to the ball. It's totally different, but I'm enjoying it down there. I do like playing forward as well, but the team wanted me to play down back, which is fine with me."

He believes his time spent as a goalkicker gives him an edge in the defensive role, owing to his familiarity with the most common strategies forwards use to shrug off their opponents.

"You know what a defender does to you, and you don't like it, so you try and do that to your opponent," he said.

Waite lined up on Nick Riewoldt on Friday night, and kept the Saints' spearhead to 15 touches and one goal – a performance he believes will give him confidence in his defensive abilities.

"If I go back forward, I've learned a little bit from Riewoldt. Every week is a learning experience for everyone."

He admits he occasionally misses the glitz, glamour and crowd-favourite status that comes with playing as a key forward, but enjoys the moments where he knows he has completed a defensive play for his side.

"I feel good when I do a good spoil in the goal square or something like that," he said.

"Kicking goals has its advantages. If you kick a goal, that's where it is, but it always happens from the back.

"It's the same result, it's the same feeling. If you do well for your team, it's always a good feeling."

Waite crept forward on one occasion on Friday night. While he didn't score, he said he will be forever lured to the attacking half in order to have the occasional shot at the big sticks.

"There's always temptation, that's a forward's mindset," he laughed.

"I've just got to control myself, put my opponent first and just go from there."