Most recently, the North Ballarat aligned Roo has switched from half-back to a wing.
“It gives you a bit more freedom," Wilkins told NMFC.com.au.
"I spent a lot of time on the wing when I was younger so it’s all starting to come back to me now. Playing at an elite level, it’s much different to school footy. At that level there wasn’t as much intent to do the things that we value here. It’s changed a lot.”
Those ‘values’ are heavily linked to the defensive side of the game according to the South Australian.
“Playing off half-back I had to get defending right first before doing the offensive things.
“It’s about not giving your opponent an inch off half-back because once you do that, it’s costly. You tend to tighten up when you have to and then run hard defensively because that’s what you and the team value.”
Development coach Josh Drummond has been pleased with Wilkins’ progress but wants him to tighten up on his opponents even more.
It's something he is working hard to address.
“It’s just lapses of concentration," Wilkins added.
"You might be ball watching and then the next thing you know your opponent has a metre on you. You might end up catching him, you might not but it’s something I’ve got to work on and try to rectify.”
Wilkins isn't alone and has ample help from his teammates and coaches.
“I’d say both the Delaney boys (Luke and Cam) are rocks of our backline. They’re really good, Keys especially, in instructing me where to be and what to do. He’s had a fair while in the system now, so his knowledge really helps me out a lot.”
When the slightly built Wilkins arrived at North, many would have expected him to struggle with the rigours and demands of life in the AFL system over a full season.
“When I came here I was a lightweight, having just had a shoulder reconstruction and done pretty much nothing at all in the gym. It took me about eight months after the reco to start getting into it and I still have a long, long way to go."
However Wilkins has since improved both fitness and his build and is working hard to give himself the best opportunity to finish off the year.
“Now I’m as fit as I’ve ever been and I’ve slowly started to put on some weight.
“I’m about halfway towards my target weight with another six kilos or so to go.”
