Speaking on the eve of his 50th AFL match this weekend against Port Adelaide, Lions forward-come-defender Jared Brennan feels as though his football apprenticeship has come to an end.

“You learn so much in your first 50 games,” Brennan said. “The next 50 will be when I find out where I’m at.

“It’s 50 more AFL games than I probably thought I was going to play five or six years ago so in that regard I am pretty happy.”

Now in his fifth season at the Lions, the 22 year-old believes that while his initial football education may be over, the time is now to further establish himself as a student of the game.

“I’m 22 now and most players generally hit their straps at around 24,” he said. “The first 50 games are basically like primary school. So hopefully now I can step up to high school and pass.”

After being drafted with selection No.3 in the 2002 National Draft, Brennan burst onto the AFL scene with a scintillating debut match against Collingwood the following year. However, he managed to play only a further 20 games in his next three seasons at the top level.

“It probably took a lot longer than I thought (to reach the milestone) because of injuries and form,” he said.

He enjoyed his most consistent season in 2006 playing 17 games and will have played 12 of a possible 13 matches this year after the Lions tackle Port Adelaide at the Gabba.

Brennan’s role has also changed significantly this season with Senior Coach Leigh Matthews looking to transform the exciting forward into a reliable key position defender.

Brennan is enjoying the challenge of being an integral part of the Lions’ new-look defence but is still learning plenty along the way.

“Down the back line you can’t be too flashy and that is something that I constantly have to remind myself and constantly have to work on,” he said. “It’s now my job to shut down my man and not let him kick goals.

“I still think I’m growing into my body. I’m much fitter now and definitely a lot stronger than I was two or three years ago. I still think that if I’m going to play at centre half-back, I’m always going to play on a Warren Tredrea, Scott Lucas and those types of players who are pretty strong. They’re up there in high 90 kilos and I’m still only 93 so I’ve got a couple of kilos to catch them boys.”