MITCH Clisby says he feels far from settled and secure in the Melbourne side, despite featuring in the past seven matches and impressing since playing his first AFL match against St Kilda in round 13.
The 23 year-old was one of Melbourne’s best in its disappointing 37-point loss to Greater Western Sydney at Skoda Stadium last round. But he said he didn’t feel he had locked a permanent position in the team at this stage.
“I wouldn’t say [I was feeling] comfortable, because if you do get too comfortable, then you can find yourself out of the side and you’ve stopped doing the things that made you a good player,” Clisby told melbournefc.com.au.
“The faith that the coaching staff has shown in me – Neil Craig and Jade Rawlings, especially – they’ve helped my confidence. They’ve definitely helped my approach to the games I’ve played, which has been a lot easier.
“In saying that, you’ve still got to have the mindset to beat your man and to give something to the team – otherwise you might find yourself out of the side.”
Clisby said he had relished his first season in the AFL, but acknowledged that it was “definitely getting tougher” to back up as the year went on. Still, he managed to collect 22 disposals against the Giants, which he ranked up there with his career best 24 touches on debut.
“I rated it pretty highly, in my top two or three games. Defensively, I provided a bit more. I thought my debut was up there as well, but it was one of my better games,” Clisby said.
“I got a few touches, and defensively I was pretty good, but on the weekend, I thought I was better offensively and I kicked my first goal.
“I had a few scoring involvements as well, which helped, so they were two different types of games.”
Although the Demons recruited Clisby from North Adelaide via last December’s NAB AFL Rookie Draft – No. 19 overall – he originally hails from West Broken Hill in New South Wales.
His return to his native state last Saturday meant he had a few familiar faces in the crowd, including cousin and inaugural Adelaide list member Trevor, who was an outstanding player for the Roosters in the SANFL.
“I approached the game as if it was any other game. Going interstate is always going to be a bit different,” he said.
“I just tried to focus on the job, but luckily I did have a bit of family there.
“I had a few cousins from Sydney who came along and watched.”
With four rounds remaining in Melbourne’s season, Clisby said he was eager to finish off the season strongly and “get a lot out of it”.
“For me personally, it’s been a successful year, I’d say,” he said.
“I still think we can win a few games towards the end of the season, so we still go in with the same mindset.
“Hopefully we can take some confidence into the pre-season, but hopefully I’ll play in the next four games and give it my all, which I have for the last seven. But hopefully, we’ll get some winning results.”