After playing as a ball-winning inside midfielder and a tagging midfielder, Declan Mountford has been moved onto a wing to complete his midfield education.

The 20-year-old had his first taste of the role last Sunday against Casey and impressed, amassing 23 disposals and eight tackles.

“It was a bit of a different role, I’d only played there briefly before in my junior career,” Mountford told NMFC.com.au.

While a wingman is still considered part of the midfield mix, the changes were considerable from Mountford’s regular role on the inside.

“You feel like you’re sitting outside waiting for the ball to come to you rather than hunting it, which is probably my nature,” Mountford explained.

“There’s more straight-line running and a bit more space when you do get it, which probably actually benefits me because I can use my acceleration and speed a little more than inside.

“I felt like I got a bit better and used to the patterns as the game went on.”

Mountford’s experience playing as an inside midfielder helped him with the team structures.

There is just as much, if not more responsibility for the team structures when playing as a winger compared to on the inside.

“You can read (the inside midfielders) a little bit more and understand which midfielders will run to certain places because you would have done the same thing,” he said.

“You’ve got to position yourself around the midfielders and where they position themselves.

“So instead of just reading the ball and trying to find it, you’ve got to weigh up where your opponent is, where the ball is going, where you think it’s going to go.

“You’re reading the play a little bit more.”

In amongst reading the play, his fellow midfielders and still carrying out his own role, there was plenty for Mountford to digest.

His output was praised by Development Manager, Ben Dyer.

“He was able to firstly set up really well and gave us good coverage on the outside of the stoppage,” Dyer said.

“Then he was able to get forward at the right time and when we were able to use the open side of the ground, Dec was able to make space and run some good patterns.

“I thought for a winger, his ability to pressure the ball and tackle – which isn’t always a requirement as much when you play outside – was still really strong.

“His ability to still do that was really important.”

Overall Mountford was pleased with his game, believing he had started well as a wingman.

“It was a different learning experience but one I enjoyed,” he added.

“I think the coaches were pretty happy, I got to use my qualities a bit more and got to take the game on a little bit more.

“I was still able to lay a few tackles which they were happy with because … you can’t really impact the contest as much.”

When Mountford does receive the call-up to add to his solitary AFL game, he now has the confidence he can play anywhere he’s needed in the midfield.

“I feel much better, I have confidence I can play and perform in a variety of different roles. It’s more strings to my bow.”