DEFENDER Michael Firrito says he will have to get used to playing key defensive roles this season following the unexpected departure of nominal full-back Jonathan Hay.

Firrito, who has spent much of the early part of his career as a hard-at-it midfielder, was pitted against Collingwood’s Sean Rusling, Fremantle power forward Matthew Pavlich and Carlton ace Brendan Fevola during the Roos’ NAB Cup campaign, with varying results.

He made light work of Rusling, took the honours over Pavlich but had his colours lowered by Saturday night’s eight-goal hero Fevola, who was fed beautifully by a rampant Blues midfield.

Firrito said he said he expected to be handed similar assignments as the season progressed. “There’s certainly an extra hole to fill now that Jonny has gone,” Firrito said. “You’ve just got to be flexible and be able to play on whoever comes up each week.

“If you look at our backline, we’ve obviously got a few options, with Drew Petrie, Shannon Watt and Josh Gibson also able to play on those bigger opposition forwards.

“We’ve got a lot of flexibility in our side and I guess that’s a good thing that will hopefully work for us as the year goes on.”

The former Eastern Ranges captain said he was looking forward to having an injury-free year after breaking the fibula bone in his left leg during the Roos’ round-six win over the Hawks last year. Firrito describes his time on the sidelines as one of the toughest phases of his fledgling career.

“It was all pretty tough and lonely because the side was losing. When I eventually did come back, for the rest of the year I was playing catch-up. I wasn’t 100 per cent fit but I was really keen to play so I battled out the year in a bit of discomfort.

“But through the pre-season it’s been good and touch wood, I'll have no more injuries and hopefully have a good year.”

Ex-Kangaroo Leigh Colbert is one observer who thinks his former teammate’s health will be a major factor in the Roos’ fortunes this year, describing Firrito as “the most valuable player at the club”.

His assessment may surprise some outside the inner sanctum at Arden St, but Colbert reckons anyone who has watched the club closely over the past few seasons would attest to the value of the man they call ‘Spud’.

“Back in 2005 when we got off to a flyer in the first five games, Mick was pretty much the barometer because of the way he was able to shut down the big names but he could also hurt the opposition with his beautiful kicking the other way.

“He’s got the ability to play anywhere. He’s big and strong and he can run like the wind. He reminds me a lot of Mark Ricciuto really. It’s a big call because Riccuito’s been a superstar over a long, long time, but that’s the sort of player I think you’re dealing with.

“It looks like they’ll have to use him on the big blokes down back this year, but I see his long-term future up in the midfield.”

Colbert reckons that once Firrito has been able to string a full season of high-quality football together, he will eventually become one of the club’s official leaders.

Firrito himself admits to possessing leadership ambitions, but with just 58 games to his name, agrees he needs a little more time at the top level before he considers himself ready for such honours.

“It’s something I’d like to do but I’ve only just turned 23. While I’d like to eventually be in the leadership group, I want to have a good year before I put my hand up.

“In the next couple of years it’s going to be up to blokes like me, Drew, David Hale and Daniel Harris to plug the gap that guys like Simmo and Arch are going to leave behind.

“It’s something I’d like to do in an official capacity some day, but hopefully I can still be a leader out on the ground anyway.”