A new, varied role could see Jackson Thurlow return to the Cats’ senior side – and stay there.

Returning from a knee reconstruction sustained in 2016, the 23-year-old featured in the first six games of this home and away season but struggled for form.

Averaging just 11 disposals, he was subsequently sent back to the VFL and asked to embrace a new role which would increase his versatility.

Speaking on this week’s episode of Momentum Energy’s #AskTheCoach, senior coach Chris Scott says the 35-gamer has done exactly that.

“We’ve been working on a slightly different role for Jackson that would’ve been the case irrespective of his ACL,” Scott said.

“We’re confident that with his ball use, his height, his marking ability, he’s a player that could develop into someone who could certainly play behind the ball but he could play in front of the ball or even around it as well.”

“The knee injury did stall that a little bit but we’re pretty confident that there are multiple roles he can play.”

The trial has worked, with Thurlow finding plenty of the football across his eight games for the VFL Cats – including 29 disposals in his most recent outing against Sandringham.

“His form at VFL level has been fantastic,” Scott added. 

“Some of the things we’ve asked him to work on he’s done incredibly well so I think it could be good timing for Jackson to be hitting good form at this time of year and work his way back into the AFL team.”