JACK Redden says being dropped for West Coast's last clash with Port Adelaide steeled his resolve and inspired his strongest patch of form since joining the Eagles.
The former Lion is preparing for his first final since 2009 against the Power on Saturday night, having nailed down his spot over the past seven games.
Redden was unlucky to be omitted after round 15 when, in his first senior game for a month, he picked up 21 touches and laid eight tackles in a hard-fought away victory over the Western Bulldogs.
But the 26-year-old made way for returning Brownlow medallist Matt Priddis and copped his demotion on the chin, starring for East Perth and forcing his way back for the last-ever Western Derby at Domain Stadium.
Redden grabbed that chance with both hands - collecting 29 touches and taking 11 marks in his best West Coast performance - and has held his spot since, drawing motivation from his recent axing.
"Obviously at the time we had Priddis resting and him coming back into the side, a club champion, and I wasn't able to hold my spot that week," Redden told AFL.com.au.
"But it just makes you want it that little bit more, and I was able to have a good mindset going into the WAFL game, had a good game there and came back into the side the next week.
"So I've taken that mindset into the latter half of the season this year."
Redden has also been a beneficiary of West Coast shuffling midfield rotations, and is spending more time in his preferred role at the coalface.
He has averaged 24 touches and five tackles since his recall and is feeling more comfortable after a difficult transition from the Lions at the end of 2015.
"The first year at West Coast didn't pan out the way I probably would've liked," Redden said.
"I had a few injuries along the way and I didn’t have a great run at the pre-season, and wasn't able to make the side when we played the first final (elimination final loss to the Bulldogs last year).
"That's why we play footy, to play finals, so this year we are and I'm in a much better position."
Redden was just 18 years old when the Lions overturned a four-goal deficit at three-quarter time to knock over Carlton in an '09 elimination final.
Michael Voss' outfit was smashed the following week by the Bulldogs, and Redden played in only 38 wins from his next 119 games before moving west.
"I haven't played in finals for eight years now, so it's very exciting," he said.
"You do appreciate it more. It doesn't come around every day, so you need to make the most of it.
"It's a pretty even competition at the moment, so anything can happen once you're in.
"I thought building up to the end of the year we played three (good) quarters here and there, but we weren't able to win the game against quality opposition.
"If we can bring that four quarters of footy, our best is really good, so I think we can do some damage."
