Brisbane key defender Jack Payne is easy to miss, and not because of his stature, but due to the host of stars littered among the Queensland club.
The Lions boast a lineup consisting of two-time Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale, the Ashcroft brothers, All-Australian backman Harris Andrews, top 5 picks in Hugh McCluggage and Cam Rayner, and so forth.
So, for Payne, he gets lost hiding in plain sight, and his position in the back half doesn't help his cause.
As a result, the 25-year-old has had to correct many people on what his name actually is.
"It's probably frustrating for Mum and Dad, more than anything," Payne said on Tuesday.
"They don't come down to every game, there's a few they watch on TV, and whenever 'Jackson' comes up, they're the first to let me know about it.
"I've got to put that on the board and let everyone know that my name's Jack, not Jackson."
The Queenslander is in career-best form, and has seemingly put his persistent injury woes behind him, taking on the competition's best forwards and quelling their influence.
In the QClash, Payne was tasked with stopping Coleman Medal leader and Gold Coast forward Ben King. He was kept to two possessions and one goal.
"The past couple of years have been a bit frustrating. I've been playing through some injuries that have probably hindered my performance a little bit," he said.
"I'm in my eighth year now and I'm playing some really good footy and I love being able to contribute to team success."
Payne's assignments don't get any easier this week, with North Melbourne's Nick Larkey set to line up alongside him.
The Lions will head to Hobart to take on the Kangaroos on Sunday.
"Each week I love taking the opposition's best forwards and trying to nullify their influence on the game," he said.
"He's had another good year ... I'm really looking forward to the battle this weekend."
A big part of Payne's rise to stardom, as well as Brisbane's stingy defence, is the arrival of Western Bulldogs premiership player Dale Morris ahead of the 2024 season.
Morris was arguably the game's most honest defender during his 15 years at Whitten Oval, playing 253 games after being taken as a rookie. He also secured an All-Australian blazer in 2008.
Payne's role, like Morris' over a decade ago, isn't the most glamorous. It doesn't fill the stat sheet, nor does it bring fans through the gates. And seemingly, it can cause pundits to make a mistake in calling his name.
But the Brisbane premiership defender has secured a role in Chris Fagan's team, and plays significantly in the club's desire to win back-to-back flags.
