Skilful Crow Matt Jaensch says he’s still adjusting to playing in defence after making the switch from attack last season.

Rookie-listed by Adelaide at the end of 2009, Jaensch played 11 games as a forward in his first year at the Club, but his neat foot skills saw him identified as an ideal candidate to play the popular and important creative role across half-back.

The long-kicking 22-year-old enjoyed a breakout season in defence in 2011 before a shoulder injury put a premature end to his year. He trained in the same position during coach Brenton Sanderson’s first pre-season in charge, featuring in all of Adelaide’s NAB Cup matches before being squeezed out of the team for the opening round clash with Gold Coast.

Instinctively an attacking player, Jaensch was told he would have to hone his defensive skills to be a regular in the backline this year.

“Offensively my game is at AFL standard, but defensively it’s probably not just yet and it’s something I’ve worked pretty hard on to get right,” Jaensch told afc.com.au.

“It’s passable at the moment, but I still work on it once or twice a week with (defensive coach) Darren Milburn. I watch a fair bit of footage with ‘Dash’ and work with Daniel Talia as well.

“If I can keep on top of that, I’m confident I’ll be able to get a game most weeks.”

Lured to West Lakes by former Geelong teammate Sanderson, Milburn has already had a strong influence on Jaensch and the inexperienced Crows defence.

“Dash has been unbelievable,” Jaensch said.

“Who would’ve thought when I first started that I’d be coached by Darren Milburn? It’s like a dream come true having watched him in the 2007 and 2009 Grand Finals, winning flags.

“He’s never really critical. He helps me out with things like my positioning and how to use my body better - just lots of little things that all help. I still pinch myself everyday working with a bloke like him.”

Small defenders have one of the toughest jobs in the modern game.

The introduction of team defence and the full-ground ‘press’ means they are often the players left holding the can when opposition teams force a turnover and find space over the back of the zone.

Jaensch said concentration played a big role in keeping dangerous opposition forwards in check.

“When you play on blokes like Jeff Garlett and Ben Sinclair and Alan Didak on the weekend, they’re sneaky forwards … all they need is half a chance to get a goal,” he said.

“Once they get in front of you and are bursting back towards goal, they can be pretty hard to catch. You’ve got to do your work early on them and do what you can because they’re hard to match up on at the best of times, but I look forward to those contests against the better players. I like being challenged.”

Long-term, Jaensch is an obvious replacement for veteran defenders Michael Doughty and Graham Johncock. But he’s keen to maintain his flexibility.

“I think I can play forward because I’ve kicked a couple of goals this year, and I like to think I can play on the wing as well,” he said.

“I’m happy playing anywhere. No one likes playing as the sub, but I’ll even do that if I have to. Anything to help the team, I’m happy to do.”

Jaensch has kicked three goals this season, and each one has been met with a boisterous celebration.

His teammates joke his celebrations are pre-meditated and even practiced at training.

“I do celebrate when I kick a goal at training. I give it the old finger point,” he said with a laugh.

“I get a bit excited when I kick a goal and make a fool of myself, but I like kicking them and the boys get a bit of a laugh out of it.”

A larrikin of the Crows team, Jaensch can always been relied upon to provide a lighter moment. His mischievous nature has landed him in trouble in the past, but he’s confident he is maturing.

“Footy clubs are a great place to be, but sometimes it can get a bit boring and same-old, same-old. I think you’ve got to have a bit of fun,” he said.

“At the start I was probably a bit of an idiot most of the time, but now I’ve got a good balance.

“I’ve worked with Michael Doughty a fair bit in regards to picking when it’s time to have a laugh and time to be serious.”