WHETHER it’s a sign of maturity or he’s just a hard marker, Jared Brennan was left shaking his head despite a stand-out performance against Melbourne on Saturday night.
Brennan’s stat line was superb.
He had 26 disposals and 10 marks, three of them contested, but there was one area he was most concerned with – the goals column.
Brennan failed to put his name on the scoresheet and had to settle for four behinds.
But his general play was a highlight of an often lacklustre win against Melbourne, with his silky skills a cut above most players on the ground.
"It was good at times and that’s probably the best thing you can take out of it," he said of the win.
"Myself, in front of goals I didn’t capitalise on the chances I had which kind of makes it a little bit disappointing.
"I kicked 0.4, that’s just not good enough, especially if you’re playing quality opposition like Geelong or St Kilda. You just can’t waste those opportunities. The team’s probably rapt with the way they went, but myself personally, I’m kicking myself I didn’t convert and take my chances."
In previous years there would barely be a story written or spoken of Brennan without the word ‘enigmatic’ thrown in, but he’s anything but that these days.
Since spending some time in the midfield last season, he has consistently taken his game to the next level, and moved it another notch higher in 2009.
He is now not just one of the League’s most versatile players; he is turning into one of the best.
On Saturday, Daniel Merrett took over the second ruck position, freeing Brennan up to do what he likes best.
"(I’m) definitely enjoying my footy a bit more this year," the 24-year-old said.
"I’m probably getting more minutes in the midfield this year than what I ever have so that means you’re always around the ball ... (I’ve got) a bit more license to take the game on more.
"I’ve still got to stick to team structures. Of course I want to have fun every week but you’ve still got to play the team structures."
Brennan said the coaching style of Michael Voss, plus his added time in the middle, had freed him up.
However, he said it was disappointing to not bury the Demons after leading by 74 points at the last change.
"It’s a different style of play we’re playing this year," he said.
"We can’t compromise different things for different teams, we’ve still got to play to our structures to what we want to play, that’s the main emphasis, it doesn’t matter who the opposition is.
"We like to take the game on, no consequence style of play, which is something we didn’t do in the last quarter."
