FIRST year Demon Jimmy Toumpas says he learned plenty from his first match under Neil Craig, after producing arguably his best game yet for the club against St Kilda at the MCG on Saturday.

Although it was just his sixth AFL match, Toumpas had a personal best 17 touches and built on some signs he showed against Collingwood, before Melbourne’s mid-season bye. The South Australian said it was an important step in his development, as he collected more disposals and felt the pressure around him when he won the ball.

“It definitely helps you going further and the contested side of my game – I tried to improve on as well,” Toumpas told melbournefc.com.au.

“I certainly learned a bit with the likes of [St Kilda duo] Nick Dal Santo and Leigh Montagna out there as well.

“I’m just trying to get some consistency and continuity in my game at the moment. I’m trying to stay in the AFL team, earn my place and then try to gain the respect of the players on field as well – [I] just [want] to do my role for the team and hopefully the boys get a few wins.”

It was the second time Toumpas has claimed double figures in disposals, but he said it wasn’t until the second half that his game lifted.

“I was very disappointed with my first half – I only had five touches in the first half, but I felt as though I was working pretty hard,” the 19 year-old said.

“But the second half, I turned it around and tried to stick at it and the coach at half-time told me to keep at it and things will turn. They eventually did for me.

“I’ve definitely got a lot of improvement to go, and hopefully I’ll build on it next week.”

Reflecting on the departure of now former coach Mark Neeld, Toumpas said it was a “pretty weird” experience to see unfold.

“[I’m] usually used to seeing Neeldy around and I had a really good relationship with Neeldy as well, so it was definitely a tough time for the club,” he said.

“The leaders of the club and Craigy drove everyone moving on really quickly, because we had a game to focus on five days after Neeldy left.

“It was tough, but the club moved on really well.”

Toumpas said interim coach Neil Craig had offered a different slant on the game with new focuses, which gave the group something to think about and work on. 

“He’s a different man, Craigy, with his philosophies, but he really emphasises skill execution and hitting the body with your skills and being competitive with your skills,” he said.

“It’s really noticeable and the boys took that on board at training, but unfortunately the pressure … St Kilda put us under was very good and we let ourselves down. The way he emphasizes skill is really big.

“[After the match] Craigy gave us a few points that we need to work on. Our kicking efficiency is letting us down at the moment and you can’t question our attack on the ball and our effort – it’s really noticeable. But we’re just letting ourselves down with our disposal, which is hurting us.”