It took two months for Brayden Fiorini to get a chance at AFL level this season, but a glance at his figures would leave you puzzled as to why he was left out of the side in the first place.
Some players get a look in the seniors through injury or suspension replacement, or another fringe member is out of form. In Fiorini's case, the 27-year-old had to bash his fist on the door of selection repeatedly to jam his way into the Gold Coast line-up.
In five VFL matches this season, Fiorini has put Damien Hardwick's selection on notice, recording 43, 47, and 47 disposals again in Rounds 3, 4 and 6 of the VFL season. His Round 5 performance? A cooler 34 disposals, but five goals and two behinds to boot.
Fiorini was finally rewarded with a call-up in Round 9 against the Bulldogs, but was thrown into a completely different role to his inside hard-ball work he'd excelled at in the state league.
With Matthew Rowell, Noah Anderson and Touk Miller rightfully holding their positions in the guts, Fiorini was utilised as a winger, a familiar position, but a mindset shift was required to play his selfless role for the team.
Fiorini said focusing on a team-first mindset was key to adapting to the change and maintaining his spot in the AFL side.
"It just comes back to my weekly routine and my processes, and essentially just performing on the weekend and playing my role for the team," the 2015 Pick 20 said.
"It's my third game in (this season) and I'm loving being back in the AFL team, and hopefully I can continue just week by week, just playing my role and not looking too far ahead.
"It's good being a part of a winning team as well."
Fiorini spoke on his influence changes between VFL and AFL teams, but demonstrated his confidence in his versatility.
"It's obviously a different role in the VFL. I was probably more inside midfielder, whereas my opportunity came at outside on the wing at AFL level," Fiorini said.
"I've played a bit of wing in the past, you know, I played there last year, so it's a familiar role for mine.
"A lot of my role is around our system, and a lot of running and unrewarded running.
"But internally my my teammates and my coaches have been really good at rewarding things they're seeing for me and giving me the confidence and belief that if I just continue to play that role, then I can be a consistent player in the AFL team."
While flooding the stat sheet in the reserves, Fiorini already accepted the harsh reality that a gig in the midfield would be hard to come by, given the talent taking up space already.
It is hence why Fiorini has been open-minded to trialling positions and exploring his versatility as a player, continuing his team-first mindset that has seen the Suns win all three games with Fiorini in the side.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
"I always knew I'm in behind some really good players in the inside brigade there at the AFL level with Rowell, Anderson, Miller," the 108-gamer said.
"I always thought it was going to be tough to break into that midfield group there. I was sort of eager to just get in (to the AFL side) anyway. I'd play down back, up forward, wherever.
"I just wanted to play in the AFL team, and I felt like I was in really good form there at VFL level.
"A few weeks back, when there was an opportunity out on the wing, I was ecstatic. As I said, I'm happy just to play anywhere as long as I'm playing at AFL level."
With Gold Coast's flourishing start to the season, it makes breaking into the side a difficulty, but Fiorini believes it creates a level of "healthy competitiveness" amongst teammates vying for a spot in the starting 22.
"We've got great depth there," Fiorini said.
"Like I named a few before... but we've had some young kids coming through. Obviously, (Bailey) Humphrey went through there, Will Graham. We've got a really good group there.
"And there's obviously a couple more in the VFL that are still ready to come in as well if needed.
"We speak about it's a long season and it's going to take a village and the whole squad to get us where we want to get to this year.
"And through injuries and sometimes form, your opportunity arises. I just wanted to make sure I was ready to take it when it did arise.
"It's definitely healthy competitiveness. Obviously, internally the the more people that are playing better, the better for the team. It keeps us eager and on our heels a little bit as well."
The Suns take on Fremantle at home on Saturday, with a win sure to increase Gold Coast's firm hold on a top-four position. A victory would also be Gold Coast's fourth in a row, and would continue their undefeated stretch with Fiorini in the side this season.
