Carlton swingman Kristian Jaksch says he feels as though he's found his feet and is looking to build in the season’s final weeks.
Having been recruited to the Blues from Greater Western Sydney at the end of last year, injury and form has seen the 20-year-old versatile big man front up for four AFL games in 2015.
However, if the last six weeks in the VFL is anything to go by, Jaksch has shown that he has settled in and primed to go full steam ahead in the season’s remaining weeks.
“I’m really starting to find my feet now: I was a bit all over the place at the start of the year trying to make new relationships in respect to all the Carlton boys and all the Northern boys,” Jaksch said.
“But I feel as though I’m really starting to find my place now, and starting to play some okay footy.”
After making his Carlton debut in Round 1 against Richmond, a broken rib which was sustained during the game saw Jaksch out of AFL action for a month.
Jaksch has since found himself on the fringes of Carlton selection, with a solid patch of form particularly in the last month raising optimism when it comes to his fortunes in the last six weeks of 2015.
“There are still a few games left in the AFL - hopefully I can put my name up and get some games towards the end of the year,” Jaksch said.
“Wherever I’m playing, whether that’s for Carlton or Northern, I’ll be looking to put my best foot forward.”
A slight change in role in recent weeks has seen Jaksch prosper in recent weeks in an otherwise difficult recent spell for the Northern Blues.
After performing admirably in the heavy loss to reigning premiers Footscray, Jaksch has found himself given brief stints up forward in the past fortnight which has yielded instant results.
It is a role which Jaksch has admitted he enjoys, with versatility a trait he feels is vital in modern footy.
“I do [feel suited to both ends], I like to change it up - it’s a bit hard given I haven’t been training too much in the forward line so you have to adjust you’re thinking when you’re put down there,” Jaksch said.
“The way the game’s going these days, you have to have a few strings to your bow and you can’t afford to be a one trick pony: it was nice to get down there and have a little bit of an impact.”
In the last two weeks particularly, Jaksch has found himself stationed inside forward 50, where he’s slotted three goals in essentially just the two quarters of footy.
Jaksch provided a bright spark for the Blues late in the otherwise disappointing loss to Casey on the weekend, kicking two goals and assisting another having spent the last quarter up forward.
Having impressed at both ends of the ground, Jaksch admits that while the decision on his whereabouts “will be up to the coaching staff”, he is more than happy contributing at either end.
“I’m certainly open to it and if that role needs to be filled I’ll put my hand up, but I’m happy playing down back either way,” Jaksch said.
With a bye to come this week, the Northern Blues next game will come on Saturday week, making the trip down to Eureka Stadium to face the North Ballarat Roosters.