A BEEFED-UP regime of cycling and extra skills sessions has Brisbane Lions livewire Todd Banfield primed for more time in the midfield.
Like many of his teammates, Banfield has been exceptional in the pre-season, and despite missing some running with patella tendonitis is fitter than ever.
He said physical performance manager Brett Burton had prescribed extra work on the bike as part of his recovery, and it had reaped immediate dividends.
The red-headed goalsneak has always craved time in the middle of the ground, and believes he can now handle it.
"I improved my endurance a little bit last year but in this pre-season I've done a lot of road rides and bike because I haven't been able to run as much," Banfield said.
"We did a session of 150s (running repetitions) - the same session we did this time last year - and I've improved by a lot, so training with the bike has helped.
"It was a new thing. First time I got on a road bike was interesting. I was doing two road rides a week plus watt bikes, so it was something different and it's really helped me with my longer running."
Now over the tendonitis, Banfield, 21, said he was also doing extra 'touch' sessions with assistant coach and Brownlow Medallist Shane Woewodin.
"I'm doing three or four sessions a week by myself so hopefully that helps," he said.
"He's (Woewodin) run me through some of the midfield stuff so I can get my head around it and eventually get into the midfield and help Richy, Rockliff, Redden and Blacky and give them a spell in the forward line if they need it."
Banfield's primary role though will be to lead the Lions' forward pressure.
He is a terrier blessed with blistering pace, and with 51 goals from his 41 matches has been a reliable source of goals alongside skipper Jonathan Brown.
He said new forwards coach Mark Harvey had instilled a defence-first mindset in the young forward line.
"That's what I mark myself on after a game. If I can keep the ball in there that's going to help us and if I do the right things it'll help me kick goals as a bonus."
Michael Whiting covers Brisbane Lions news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @mike_whiting
