Liam Picken’s transformation from defensive stopper to attacking midfielder was one of the more obvious impacts that first year senior coach Luke Beveridge had on the Western Bulldogs in 2015.

Or was it?  Picken’s averages of 24 disposals, ten contested possessions and six tackles per game were all career highs, but according to Champion Data, he also was one of only two midfielders in the competition to rate elite for both tackles and tackle efficiency, suggesting Picken’s shift wasn’t as black and white as it appeared.

In any case, it’s not often that a player in his seventh season has his best year yet, but that’s exactly what Picken did.  But ask him about it, in typical, selfless, ‘Picko’ style, all he wants to talk about is the team. 

“Looking back, it was a really good year for myself and the team compared to the last few years when we were down, but every year is a good challenge and you’ve just got to work hard and get better," Picken said.

“Everyone’s out there trying to get better, so, we’ve all got to improve. 

“We didn’t win a final last year so there’s a lot of room for improvement. 

"The path ahead is going to be hard but it’s going to be really good, the challenge ahead.”

Now working through his eighth preseason at the Club, Picken told westernbulldogs.com.au that the variety of activities and location this time around has him feeling as fresh as ever.

“The past few months of preseason have been really good, obviously coming back from the Christmas break, we’ve had a camp down in Lorne and then Mooloolaba, so we’ve had some really stimulating things. 

“The group’s gelled together really well together with all of the new guys, so it’s been pretty exciting this preseason.”

Picken said that with the NAB Challenge just three weeks away and an intra-club scrimmage at Whitten Oval this Saturday during Family Day, it will provide a chance to see where the group is at after a long pre-season.

“Everyone’s been training really well. 

“Obviously it’s a little bit difficult to tell when we’re playing against ourselves with match practice, but there’s a really good vibe, a few of the groups are training really well together and pushing really hard and it’s really exciting.”