Normally a 54-point win over a team with the reputation of Carlton makes for headline news. Last year’s Friday night blockbuster provided a different angle that was a talking point for weeks.

Chris Judd was suspended for four weeks for a ‘chicken wing’ tackle on Leigh Adams, but the man at centre of the controversy doesn’t hold a grudge.

“I’m guessing it’s going to be built up at some stage but it’s just another game of footy,” Adams told NMFC.com.au.

PRESS PLAY above to watch Adams after the 2012 game | YouTube

While joking that it was ‘probably the only thing I’m known for’, the midfielder says there will be bigger issues at hand on Friday night than bringing up the past.

“Nothing will be said out there. He (Judd) copped his whack for what he did and we’re both still trying to fight for the finals spot.

“All the focus will be on that instead of a little incident that happened a year ago.”

The last three matches have arguably been the best of Adams’ season. Averaging almost 23 possessions a game in that period, the number 13 has started to get back to his best.

The 25-year-old’s 11 contested possessions against Brisbane was his highest since Round 9, although he still believes there’s improvement to come.

“I’m starting to get there. I’m not there yet but it’s definitely been a lot more positive than the first half of the year,” Adams added.

“Hopefully I continue to have the work-rate I’ve had over the last couple of weeks and the possessions will look after itself.”

The quiet first half of the season was the result of several factors, according to Adams. Firstly there was the worry of another shoulder injury, a thought that wasn’t prominent but potentially bubbling away under the surface.

“Subconsciously it might have played on my mind a little bit. Contested footy is a big strength of mine so to be subconsciously thinking of that it’s going to have a little bit of an effect on you.

“I don’t want to use that as an excuse but it might have taken me a bit of time to get used to it again. I feel a lot more confident now and I’m also a lot stronger now so I can get back to the contested footy.

“I’ve had a couple of little incidents here and there and while they weren’t big at all, it might have been a little psychological thing where my body gets into the phase that it’s been hit in the shoulder and thinks it’s a little more hurt than it actually is.”

Also challenging was the push to spending more time away from the midfield, and carving his niche as a semi-permanent forward.  

In 2012 Adams averaged seven centre bounce involvements per game. So far this year it is down to three.

“We’ve got really good depth in our midfield with our younger blokes so there hasn’t been a need for me to go in there. I’ve really enjoyed playing up forward and I just had to define my role with what I could or couldn’t do.

“Early on in the year I probably stayed a little too deep where I should have been getting up the ground a bit more. I had a chat with Scotty (Brad Scott) and looked at a few of my running patterns from earlier in the year and in the last few weeks they’ve been a lot better than what they have been.”

The man known as Patch admits he has had to adapt to the shoulder issues, and more time in attack.

“I had to change my game a little bit to be a bit smarter until I got a little more stronger. I feel like I’m at the point where I can go back to playing the way I want to play.

“It was about getting the balance right. Still getting the contested ball and using a ‘see ball, get ball’ mentality but then if I wasn’t first to the ball, just throwing my arm out to try and tackle.

“It was more about making smart decisions on when to dive for the footy and when to dive at opponents. I think I’ve ironed that out of my game a little bit now.”

Now with everything in order, Adams is able to focus on his role from week to week. With 77 games under his belt, he believes he knows enough to continue his re-emergence.  

“I need to have my work-rate up from the start to have a good game. If I can get up the ground early and be around the ball and around the contest I’ll feel like I’ll be involved in the game more. If I sit back a little bit and wait for the ball I know I’m not going to have much of an impact.

“It may be as simple as laying a tackle, a bump or covering off an opposition player. If I start to do that then the rest will take care of itself.”