AVID Geelong viewers could see Jordan Murdoch had been building up to a performance like he had against Carlton on Friday night.
 
So when the 23-year-old speedster ended the game with career-highs in disposals (26) and goals (four), in a best-afield display against the Blues, it did not come as much of a shock.
 
"I've felt that I've been building throughout the year and I was lucky enough to get on the end of a few," Murdoch told AFL.com.au in the Geelong rooms after the game.
 
"I think it's a result of a lot of hard work I've been doing behind the scenes with guys like (midfield coaches) Nigel Lappin and Matthew Knights."
 
After spending the majority of the 2014 season as a medium-sized forward, teaching Murdoch how to play on the wing and through the midfield has been Lappin and Knights' primary focus.
 
Murdoch has also been viewing hours of training and game footage with Lappin and Knights in an effort to teach Murdoch where to run so he can have more impact, which Chris Scott suggested was the 48-gamer's next challenge.

"He's been working really hard on his game. He's always effective when he gets the ball, but he just needs to get himself in a position to get used a little bit more," Scott said Murdoch.
 
"That was the pleasing thing for us tonight. He seemed to be involved in the action a little bit more."
 
Murdoch had been struggling with a back-related issue early in the season and it was one of the reasons that he only found himself back in the side in the round three duel with Gold Coast at Simonds Stadium.
 
The back niggles are something he continues to manage.
 
"It's taken a lot of physio work and it's something I work hard on week to week to keep it together," Murdoch said.
 
As Scott indicated in his press conference, the challenge for Murdoch, Josh Caddy, Mark Blicavs, Cameron Guthrie, Jed Bews, Jackson Thurlow, Darcy Lang, Cory Gregson and Shane Kersten is to produce standout performances on a consistent basis.

"We still rely on our experienced players, like most teams do," Scott said.

"We've been relatively confident in their ability for a season or two now, but it's a big step to contributing every now and again to taking control of the destiny of the team.

"That's what we're hoping for. That's what we're trying to fast track."