POWER midfielder Tom Logan is an expert at walking the selection tightrope.

His three-year career with Port Adelaide has been split between the Power and SANFL side Glenelg, as he continues to strive towards a regular place at AFL level.

After retaining his spot with the Power for the last five games in 2007, including all three finals, Logan made his intentions for 2008 very clear in the club’s first official hit-out.

The 22-year-old dominated Port Adelaide’s February internal trial, picking up 40-plus possessions in just over three quarters of footy. Logan maintained his sizzling summer form, pushing Kane Cornes in the club’s 3km time trial and showing his younger teammates the way throughout the NAB Challenge.

But despite his consistent form and unquestionable work ethic, Logan admits he can never really relax with his spot in the Port Adelaide team - a sentiment echoed by assistant coach Jason Cripps.

“Tommy lives on the edge. He knows he’s not a superstar, but he knows what he has to do week in and week out,” Cripps said.

“He’s a great runner. He’s very hard at the footy and he puts a lot of pressure on defensively.

“I think living on the edge brings the best out of him.”

This year, Logan is hopeful a change in roles will help keep his name at the forefront of the selection table.

In the past, the gutsy onballer has played predominantly as a goal kicking midfielder, but, now, he’s added a bit more versatility to his game, with a cameo in defence.

“In a few games this season, I’ve been given a role across half-back, where I think I’ve performed pretty well. The coaches have been pretty pumped with what I’ve been able to do and I’m feeling pretty good about my place in the team,” Logan said.

“I suppose losing my spot is always in the back of my mind, but I’m probably more accustomed to it now than in previous years.

“I’m a bit more relaxed about my status within the group and it’s not as bad now.

“I want to be in the side every week, so all I can do is keep doing my bit for the team and keep putting my hand up.”

Logan’s new role has also allowed him to play alongside close mate Adam Thomson.

The duo returned to the Power line-up in round five this season and helped break the club’s losing spell.

“Thommo and I are pretty close. I remember one of the coaches saying to me once that Adam and I would never play in the same team together, because we’d always be competing for the same spot,” Logan said with a smile.

“So it’s good we’ve been able to spend some time playing together and also winning.”

The SA-born utility has enjoyed a career spanning across three states and two AFL clubs. Logan followed in the footsteps of his father and older brother, taking up football at age 12, when his family moved to the Northern Territory.

In Darwin, Logan played for the Waratah Warriors, where he remained until being drafted by the Brisbane Lions in 2003.

Logan played three games with the Lions before being delisted and subsequently rookie listed by Port Adelaide at the end of 2005.

Coincidentally, Logan has been involved with two losing Grand Final teams.

Once, in 2004 when he watched his Lions teammates go down to the Power, and the other, last year when he was a member of the Port Adelaide team that lost to Geelong.

“Losing a Grand Final definitely drives you further. You find yourself thinking about getting back there,” he said.

“Every time you walk into the gym and see photos of the boys with their medallions from 2004, or any ‘highlights’ on TV about Geelong winning the premiership - you start thinking, ‘that could’ve been us’.