In one week, out the next. Up until last weekend, it had been a frustrating start to the year for Blake Acres. Although he concedes the hard line approach has been beneficial for his development, with St Kilda Coach Alan Richardson providing the young West Australian with a good deal of feedback in the early stages of his third year in the system.
Those benefits came to fruition against Melbourne last Saturday afternoon at Etihad Stadium, with the athletic midfielder producing the finest performance of his short career, collecting a career-high 28 possessions and acquiring the Round 6 NAB Rising Star nomination in the process.
Acres breakout game earns Rising Star nomination
“I suppose it has been a little bit frustrating coming in and playing the one game and then going out again. But ‘Richo’ knows what he’s doing. He’s been really honest with me and giving me the things I need to work on,” Acres told SEN’s The Run Home.
“In the first week against Port I was a little bit inconsistent and didn’t really have an impact in the fourth quarter in that game.
“So he just wanted me to put together a four-quarter effort game in the VFL and once I’d done that he gave me another opportunity against the Hawks.
“And then it was more alongside my contest stuff he wanted me to improve on, so I focused on that at training and then it was just the weekend and it all went together for me.”
Acres: It's an exciting time to be at the Saints
After being plagued by injuries in his first two seasons at Linen House Centre and only managing ten games of senior experience, Acres admits his breakthrough performance against the Demons has instilled him with confidence he can make an impact at the level.
“I was just happy that I was able to help the team get the win on the weekend, I haven’t really done that much in the AFL yet, so to have the game like I did on the weekend it does build some confidence going forward,” Acres said.
Eyeing a permanent role as an inside midfielder down the track, the West Perth product is content playing where he is asked to for now, until he earns the right to play an integral role in St Kilda’s evolving engine room.
“Right now I’m playing a half-forward-wing role and on the weekend I played a little bit inside,” Acres said.
“I’ve just got to play some consistent footy and hopefully I play as an inside midfielder later down the track. That’s where I want to be a few years’ time hopefully. I’m working my way into that inside position.”
