A healthy Toby Greene could be a midfield weapon from left field for the GIANTS this year, but the gun isn't campaigning for a permanent move back to his old role as a free-wheeling onballer.
Greene starred in his early years in the competition, averaging over 28 disposals and four clearances per game, but really made his name as a high half-forward when coach Leon Cameron made the move in 2016.
The 25-year-old kicked 44 goals from 23 games on his way to winning the Kevin Sheedy Medal that season, as well as Virgin Australian All Australian selection, and helped the GIANTS to a preliminary final.
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He backed that up with 45 goals from just 19 matches the following year.
Injuries have dogged Greene over the past two seasons and a calf problem after round one looked like his issues might hinder another year, but after playing the past five matches in a row, the original GIANT looks on the verge of recapturing his best touch.
He's feeling so good that Cameron has used his star forward as a midfielder over the past fortnight, and Greene told AFL.com.au that he's enjoying the switch.
"I get a different kind of freedom up the ground, it's a lot more dynamic (than it used to be) and I guess I'm still pretty raw in there, but I've just got to take it as it comes," he said.
"It's a good little change-up and I think it's something we can use more in the second half of the year.
"If anyone is a bit sore or something, it gives Leon another option if he knows I can go in there and help out.
"There's a lot of really good players around me so that makes it easier.
"It's definitely not a goal of mine to be back in there full-time, I might just be needed in there for certain games or against certain opponents.
"I love my time up in the forward line and I'd like to think that's where I play my best footy."
After two straight summers of lower leg problems and his round one setback this year, the GIANTS made a concerted effort to ensure Greene's body wasn't going to break down again when he resumed against Sydney in round six.
That solid training block looks to have him primed to get back into the rhythm of regular senior footy.
"I'm feeling great, so I've just got to make sure it stays that way," Greene said.
"I was feeling really fit before round one, then I had the little calf issue which took longer to get over than I thought it would, so that was frustrating.
"But I feel like I've really raised my fitness levels over the last few weeks, so hopefully I can just keep building on it."
The outstanding form of Coleman medal leader Jeremy Cameron (33 goals), plus Jeremy Finlayson (22) and Harry Himmelberg (15) this season – as well as the move of last year's All Australian half back Lachie Whitfield to the forward line - is another reason Leon Cameron can afford to send Greene up the ground when he sees fit.
Greene said the forwards' emphasis on playing selfless footy has been a key to their success as a group.
"We've definitely got a great bond at the moment," he said.
"One week it's 'Jezza', the next week it's Finlayson and another week it's Harry, but they're all getting on the end of it.
"They're all playing their own part in helping each other out, so it's been great having those boys firing."
