A SOLID pre-season and a change in position have seen Tarkyn Lockyer improve out of sight this year.

While the 27-year-old doesn't believe his record in the past few years deserves criticism, he agrees his form in the opening five rounds of 2007 have provided a welcome boost.

"I'm certainly feeling quite confident in my own abilities, having put together a few good games in a row," Lockyer told collingwoodfc.com.au.

"I suppose it just reinforces to yourself that you can still play at senior level.

"I don't think my performances over the past couple of years have been bad by any stretch of the imagination. I've been pretty consistent and I've played pretty well. Just in the first five games [this year], I've played a bit better than I usually do."

Having spent the past few seasons playing either in defence or as a half-forward, Lockyer says being given more of a running role has helped his form.

"Playing midfield is probably one contributing factor. I've also had a pretty good pre-season. I didn't miss much training and got another pre-season under my belt," he said.

"The way the rest of the group has trained, and the improvement that they have shown over the pre-season, means I’ve had to get better.

"Everyone has had to improve and if you look at the time trial results and that sort of stuff, it's certainly been my best pre-season.

"You have to throw in the fact I've been playing in the midfield a bit more, as I get more of an opportunity to get more possessions."

Lockyer says the opportunity to play in more space has improved his form, and in turn, his confidence.

But, he's not sure just where he does play his best football, and believes his versatility is his most valuable commodity.

"At the moment, I seem to be fulfilling a role and playing that quite well, but I've also played some pretty good footy when I do go back," he said.

"When I go forward, I get a different opportunity and I've kicked a few goals as well. It's not necessarily that I'm a lot better in one position than another, it's just at the moment the ball is falling my way and I've played alright in the first five games.

"The beauty about me at the moment, I suppose, is that I do have that ability to go forward or back, and it just gives [coach] Mick [Malthouse] a different opportunity to pick me each week."

At 27, Lockyer is by no means nearing the end of his playing career. But he says it doesn’t always feel that way post-match.

"I can definitely notice it takes a lot longer to recover after a game than when I first started."

"But I'm feeling good. This is my 10th year now, so I certainly have a good routine and I know what I have to do during the week to get myself right to play each weekend. I think that's the advantage you have after you've played for a few years.

"As a younger guy, it takes you a couple of years to work out just what you need to do during the week to get that confidence to go out on a match day and play your best footy."

While he might not be the oldest player at the club and still rests comfortably on the ‘right’ side of 30, Lockyer said the constant flow of teenagers coming into the club makes him feel older than his age.

"When you walk into the footy club, and you've been there for a few years, and you've got guys who are still doing their year 12…" he said.

"I did year 12 in 1996. You certainly do feel old, even though I'm only 27. Twenty-seven for a normal person is really quite young, but as an AFL footy player, you're probably heading for the end of your career."

At the forefront of his personal goals, Lockyer wants to continue his current form and hold his position in the senior side.

He would also like to continue to act as a mentor for the club's younger players, who are yet to prove themselves at the highest level.

Lockyer specifically looks after youngster Ryan Cook, who he offered accommodation to for the first few months of Cook's life as a Magpie.

The tough midfielder believes ensuring the next generation of players develop on schedule will only improve the team as a whole, as it will promote intra-club rivalry for positions.

"I'd just love to keep that consistency and keep playing at the highest level," he said.

"I suppose that translates into helping the younger fellas and just showing them the way they're supposed to go about their footy, and fast-track them to get them playing senior footy as well.

"Not necessarily your Dale Thomases and your Scott Pendleburys or Brad Dicks, but it's the other guys down at Williamstown that need to be shown what they need to do to break into the side.

"Once we get that competition for a spot each week, and those guys underneath are putting pressure on the older guys to keep their spots, it's very healthy competition within the club and it makes you very strong going forward."

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.