A MOVE to half-back has proved the spark needed to reignite the form of influential Port Adelaide midfielder Matthew Broadbent.
A breakout 2012 saw the 22-year-old finish equal runner-up in the Power's best and fairest but he struggled to live up to that standard early this season.
He averaged 20 disposals and a goal a game last year, and finished equal runner-up with Brad Ebert to Kane Cornes in the club's best and fairest.
But this year, the 22-year-old has averaged fewer than 16 touches a game before the club's big win over the Sydney Swans in round 13.
Since then Broadbent has bounced back into form, and was arguably best afield in last Saturday's 35-point win over Collingwood with a career-high 34 disposals.
Despite a slow start to the year, Broadbent's Official AFL Player Ratings numbers are still trending upwards.
He's the fifth-best player at Port according to the ratings and 107th in the League.
He said the club's bye enabled him to refresh mentally, but also put his resurgent form down to a change of roles.
"(At the) start of the year I probably wasn't in great form, I knew that, and was trying everything to get out of it," Broadbent said.
"I thought I was training pretty well over the pre-season and for whatever reason things weren't happening … all you can do is keep working hard and try and move on.
"Having that week off was really good mentally and to go back to half-back and feel a bit more settled back there has probably helped as well."
The club faces another big test this weekend, taking on Essendon at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
After downing the Swans and Magpies at AAMI Stadium, Broadbent said the challenge to beat another powerhouse, but this time away from home, was a significant challenge.
"That consistency [in performance] is where the challenge comes," he said.
"We're not going to take a step back from it, we're going to meet it front on.
"It comes back to training during the week, preparing well and going into the game against Essendon knowing that we're ready to take it to them.
"We can obviously take a lot of confidence and belief out of the last two weeks, so there's no reason why we cant beat Essendon as well."
Sitting seventh on the ladder, two wins clear of ninth and with several very winnable games in the run home, the Power are close to sewing up a top-eight finish.
But after several lean seasons, Broadbent insisted the focus would remain very short-term.
Harry Thring is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Harry.
