Gary Moorcroft isn’t scared of heights. In fact he is renowned for his high-flying antics. Last weekend against Melbourne the spring-heeled Moorcroft almost dragged in what would almost certainly have been mark of the year sitting on the shoulders of Demon James McDonald. It is a sight that Essendon fans have got used to. And while it will always be a part of Moorcroft’s game, it is not the part he wants to be remembered for when his playing days are over. Moorcroft wants to move into the mid-field more often and show he can make an impact in that area.

And he might just be starting to earn the reputation. Against West Coast Moorcroft spent some time in the middle and against Melbourne he did a similar job. He started on the bench but went into the mid-field in the second quarter and spent more time on the ball than he has ever previously spent in a senior game. And there is no denying he gave the Bombers some spark when moved onto the ball – something that was needed particularly with the likes of Joe Misiti, Mark Mercuri, Michael Long and Chris Heffernan sidelined. It was even more significant given Blake Caracella was on the bench with a shoulder injury.

“It was good to get a run in the middle and hopefully I made a contribution. Obviously most of my senior football has been played as a permanent forward but I want to be able to play up the field as well. You have to have a couple of strings to your bow – that flexibility helps keep your place in the side,” Moorcroft said. “I have been used off the bench a fair bit this season and if that fits in with the team plan and we are winning then it doesn’t bother me as much. But you want to be out there and a part of it and hopefully if they can swing into the middle I will spend more time on the ground.”

Moorcroft played in the Bombers premiership side last season but it wasn’t long after the game that he decided he had to change the way he played to ensure his longevity in the game. “It is hard to contribute each week as a permanent forward, particularly in our forward line so I made a conscious decision to get fitter,” Moorcroft said. “If I was to play some football in the middle I had to lighten off and ensure I could run games out.”

So Moorcroft set about shedding some kilos and he did so to great effect. His body fat is down and he is six kilograms lighter than he was at this time last year. “I’m feeling much better for it but the bonus is that I haven’t lost any of my strength. I am actually lifting heavier weights now than I was at this time last year,” Moorcroft said.

So keep an eye on the progress of Gary Moorcroft in the coming weeks. One thing you can be sure of is that he will make a contest. He’s hard at the football and doesn’t take a backward step. With the mid-field missing some quality players at the moment he couldn’t pick a better time to make his mark.