Centre half forward can be a lonely position when a side is struggling to play its best football. And so it has been for some of season 2002 for Scott Lucas. The 24-year-old who starred in the 2001 finals' series for the Bombers hasn't got as much of the football as he would have liked. As is too often the case, he is one of the players that the armchair critics are quick to point the finger at. For a forward line to function it needs quality football delivered to it and the Bombers' skills by hand and foot haven't been as good as in recent seasons.

But Lucas isn't about to lay the blame at the feet of his teammates. He says his form hasn't been what it could have been earlier in the season. ""The last couple of weeks have been okay, certainly better than my form in the previous weeks,"" Lucas said.

For Lucas to describe his form of the past two weeks as ""okay"" is an understatement and typically modest. He has been more than okay in the past couple of weeks. Against Richmond, Lucas kicked two early goals which were to prove critical in the context of a low-scoring match. He then went to centre half back in the desperate final quarter and held the dangerous Brad Ottens.

Against Brisbane Lucas continually presented himself across half forward and the centre line - he finished with 25 possessions and 13 marks in an excellent display. ""I was told to push up into the mid-field a bit more against Brisbane. It gives you a bit of freedom and if you work hard enough you get rewarded,"" Lucas said.

Lucas said that despite the result of the match against Brisbane he believed the Bombers could take some confidence out of the result. ""Our first half was really good. I think it is fair to say we went into the game a little unsure but we came out knowing that if we put it together we still have what is needed to mix it with the sides at the top of the ladder,"" Lucas said.