Tom Atkins has come full circle.

He went from an inside midfielder in his days as Geelong’s VFL captain, to a small forward role once breaking into the AFL squad via the Rookie list, and then finally landed as one of Matthew Scarlett’s ‘Misfits’ down back last year.

This season, with Patrick Dangerfield sidelined for an extended period, Atkins was summoned back to the coalface, and in true Tom Atkins style, he bear-tackled the opportunity and hasn’t let go.

Standing face to face with Melbourne’s premiership winning engine room in the middle of GMHBA Stadium last Thursday night, Atkins, unintimated, got to work.

In Geelong’s 28 point win, he would lead the game in pressure acts (30), tackles (9), and the Cats in clearances (9) in just 69% of game time. That’s less time on the ground than all but six other players.

He also added 21 disposals, five inside 50s, and five scoring involvements for good measure.

Over the first nine rounds of the season, Atkins attended just two centre bounces, and in the time since he’s been in there 117 times. He’ll tell you he’s in there for one skill, pressure, but as a pure midfielder, he appears to be getting better with each game he plays.

He now ranks alongside Cam Guthrie (13.3) and Joel Selwood (11.4%) for centre bounce clearance percentage (12.8%) since Round 10 and ranks 3rd at the Cats for clearances per game over the same period. 

It's little wonder we've seen the uptick in his craft when he’s matched up on the likes of Dangerfield, Selwood, and Guthrie at training each week. 

But you have to want it and the 26 year old is a sponge. 

“As much as talking, it’s probably more from playing on them,” he said of how he’s approached the opportunity to learn.

“That’s probably where I’ve had the most learning. Getting dominated by Guth or Danger every time I’m playing on them at training.

“That’s where you pick up the little things that might help you against the opposition.”

While his pressure is undoubtedly his one wood, his numbers over the past two months: +5 for career disposals and +3.5 for clearances show that, despite his modesty, there’s plenty more to Atkins’ game than just intent. But for the moment, he is enjoying being back in the middle of the ground where it all began.

"I’ve really enjoyed the change,” he said,

“It’s just been good to contribute and I’m just happy to be in there helping out.”