IT TENDS to happen at all footy clubs.

The team enjoys a massive improvement fromone year to the next and all the credit either goes to the established stars ofthe team, who continued to shine even in the darker moments, or the emergingyoung gems, who have taken that mystical 'next step'.

But you'll find there are always thosesolid citizens who do a job for their coach week in, week out, and without whomthat climb up the ladder would never have been possible. At the Kangaroos, JessSinclair is one who definitely fits into this category.

The 28-year-old has been a regular fixturein the Roos' line-up throughout most of Dean Laidley's four-and-a-half years ascoach, has managed three top-10 finishes in the Syd Barker Medal and has thisyear possessed the ball more than every player on the Roos' list bar AdamSimpson and Brent Harvey. Yet, he continues to fly under the radar.

But ask Sinclair if he feels hiscontribution has been somewhat undervalued, he shrugs it off and produces theold line about being 'happy to get a game'.

"I suppose I've been getting a fairbit of the ball but we probably don't put a lot of value on those rawpossession-type stats," Sinclair said.

"Dean's focus is more about theone-percenters and things like tackles, blocks, hard ball gets and things likethat, so if we all concentrate on those things the touches will sort themselvesout.

"I suppose I'm just happy to keepdoing my job and as long as Dean thinks that I'm doing that, I'll keep doingthose things and be happy to get a game each week."

In keeping with his unassuming,team-oriented approach, Sinclair appears content have his name thrown around thewhite board as his coaches aim to keep the opposition guessing on game day.

In his own words, he has been "flickedaround a bit" as the Roos' brains trust look to keep the team's runningbrigade fresh enough to cope with the demands of their hard-running, attackinggame plan.

"Yeah, I've been all over the shop abit. I've been predominantly playing on the wing and through the midfield butI've also been sliding down through the backline to relieve one of our half-backswhen they've been going off for a rest.

"We've been pretty lucky that we'vebeen able to bring a few blokes in who can play that midfield/half-back typerole – someone like Ed Lower came in and played well at the weekend – so we allhave to play well to keep our spot.

"In that sense, we are all prettymotivated to play well each week and to play to the sort of game the coachwants us to play."

With Melbourne'sweather turning nasty in the past week, Sinclair says he is looking forward togetting up to the Gold Coast to play Adelaidein what looms as a massive game for both clubs.

"We love playing up at Carrara - it's a greatground and obviously it's nice to get away from the cold and up to the warmerweather every now and then.

"We had a very good record up atCanberra and we've started well with two wins up there already so we're hopingwe can make the Gold Coast a bit of a fortress as well. 

"But it's certainly not going to beeasy this week against Adelaide - they are agreat side and they'll be pretty keen to bounce back after losing at home to Geelong. It's going to betough but it's a challenge we're looking forward to."