FOR Bulldogs midfielder Sam Power, season 2007 is all about consolidating last year’s form with consistent performances.

After an upbeat first-round performance last weekend, Power thinks he is on course for his ultimate goal of winning a regular spot in the Dogs’ line-up, as well as shaking the dreaded tag of ‘fringe’ player.

“It was a positive, to play round one. To give a contribution to the win was important,” he told westernbulldogs.com.au.

“It also gives me a bit more confidence going into the year as I’m on the right track so far.”

After being selected as a top-10 draft pick in 2001, Power played six games in his debut season followed by 19 the following year when he won the most promising player award.

In 2004 Power’s form took a dip, and he struggled to adjust to Rodney Eade’s game-plan when the former Swans coach took over in 2005. That season he managed only 10 games.

“You just want to be in every week,” he said. “I played a lot of games in my second and third years and it wasn’t until Rocket came in my fourth year that I played the least number of games.

“That was me getting used to a new coach and trying to change my game as I learned more from him and how to fit into his game plan.”

Last year, however, represented a firm step in the right direction. Power played 19 games and finished the season strongly as he ran out for every game – including two finals – after round 10.

Having put together such a strong second half to 2006 and a dedicated pre-season, Power is hoping he will no longer be known as the Bulldog on the outer.

“I hope being known as a fringe player is behind me. I’m determined to have a regular spot in the team and not tagged as ‘on the fringe’,” he said.

“We’ve got good depth on the list and I still feel like I’ve got to be playing well every week to maintain my spot. That’s probably more a credit to the group and the pressure from those who aren’t in the team and are pushing up.

“I’d certainly love to get rid of that tag and be a valuable player to this team.”

After being selected so high in the draft and playing 19 games in just his second season, Power said it was difficult to accept dropping outside the club’s best 22.

“It’s definitely frustrating,” he said. “You want to be in every week and it probably wasn’t until the second half of last year where I started to get a regular game.

“Putting pressure on yourself to play the best you can every week – maybe it’s not such a bad thing after all.”

Power is keen to escape also the shadow cast by his older brother Luke, who is an established player and one of the league’s premier midfielders for the Brisbane Lions.

While he said Luke was one of his best mates and the pair speak “every second or third day”, he admitted it sometimes became tiresome to constantly be compared to his high-achieving sibling.

“It’s a little bit frustrating,” he said. “When you see something written about you, his name is always mentioned and you’re always the brother of his.

“He has had a fantastic career and I’ve got to try to cement a regular spot and get out of that shadow to a degree.

“We’re very different players. I’m a lot taller than him, he’s a bit quicker, but in saying that, I’m very proud of everything he has achieved in football.”

Off the field, Power is also aiming for the big time, with the 23-year-old halfway through a commerce-law degree at Melbourne University.

His football commitments mean he can study only part-time, and in his case, that means only one subject a semester. Because of the comprehensive nature of the degree, Power has been studying for five years now – and predicts he has another five to go.

“It is difficult. Football is my number one and it’s sort of an extra thing on top to try to take my mind away from football,” he said.

While still unsure of what field he will enter once his days as a footballer and university student are complete, he is dedicated to his studies and recognises the importance of having pursuits outside of the game.

“You probably don’t achieve the marks that you’d like to achieve but it’s there more as something to fall back on when my football career finishes,” he said.

“I enjoy it and I understand my commitments outside of studying but I really enjoy it taking my mind off footy.

“I still don’t exactly know what I’m going to do. I'll probably go down the commerce path. I’m majoring in accounting, so something in that area, or a management-type area.

“I couldn’t see myself practising law at this stage but hopefully football goes for a long time and I’ll have a while to decide.”

For now, Power is just happy to work towards his ultimate goal of consistency – and becoming known as more than just Luke’s little brother.