After a career best 2017, Blake Acres will be looking to build on that form and be a permanent name on the team list of St. Kilda for 2018.
Since being drafted in 2013, Acres has had a promising, yet at times, disappointing start to his career. Beaming with talent and poise with the football in hand, the 22-year-old has faced some tough challenges to get to where he is currently.
With an exciting midfield coming through for the fourth-youngest team, Acres admits that while he had a great year, he needs to lift and add new things to confirm his start each week.
"I've still got to worry about a spot, but I don't have to go out there at training and kill someone else to get a spot," Acres said.
The versatile athlete poses a lot of problems for the opposition, with his height, strength and endurance allowing him to play at all ends of the ground, and be a match-up nightmare.
The 190-cm utility admits his time will be spent between the wing, the midfield and the forward line for majority of 2018, a role that allows him to play with freedom and be comfortable in.
Alan Richardson has shown his faith in Acres, as well as pushed him to dominate in games throughout 2017.
Acres was dropped twice throughout the year, teaching him the importance of taking it for granted, and Richardson is motivating him to be better consistently, much like the team.
Richardson believes with the way Acres has applied himself on the training field thus far, he will become one of the most improved midfielders for the season ahead, adding to his strengths, and closing the gap with weaknesses, including improving his kicking around the ground.
Entering his fifth season, and becoming an established AFL player, Acres has decided to step it up this pre-season, adding new facets into his game to make an even stronger contribution for 2018.
"Going into last pre-season I was told I need to work on my efficiency, and that got a lot better during the year. But this season it's being able to hit the harder kicks, the kicks that Jack Billings, Shane Savage and Jimmy Webster can all hit," Acres told AFL.com.au.
"I've tried to keep it pretty simple, but I'm trying to add that to my game. If I train it here and earn the trust of the group, then I can go for them on game day."
In 2017, the young midfielder was able to play 18 games, the most of his short career, as well as gathering the most disposals for his career, averaging 20.3 touches, with his pre-season form already pointing to an even more improved 2018.
With the departures of experienced leaders in Nick Riewoldt, Leigh Montagna and Sean Dempster over the last year, the younger group are stepping up to fill the void.
Housemate Luke Dunstan and Acres have taken on the responsibility of welcoming the new guys to the team, "We've taken that on and try to invite the younger guys out early, instead of waiting a year or two, and they feel a lot more comfortable."
The Saints will be striving towards a finals berth this season, after a disappointing 2017.