ADELAIDE defender Matthew Jaensch has waited longer than most players in the system for an opportunity to play AFL, but his story as a mature-age recruit is one of missed opportunities rather than hard luck.
 
Jaensch, a talented junior footballer, was on track to realise a lifelong dream and be drafted in 2007 when he was kicked out of the South Australian under-18 team before the start of the National Championships for being intoxicated at a club function.

He was overlooked at the NAB AFL Draft as a result and instead of starting his first pre-season at a new club, got a job as an apprentice electrician and continued to play under-age and reserves footy for SANFL club Sturt.

He spent three years with the Double Blues, including a full season in the league team, before being offered a lifeline by the Crows in the 2010 Rookie Draft.

The 22-year-old made the most of his second chance, being selected to make his debut in round six last season, but ill-discipline brought him undone again only three weeks later.

He was suspended alongside best and fairest winner Bernie Vince for staying out beyond what the leadership group deemed to be an acceptable hour, following the club's loss to North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium in round eight.

Sure he had "blown it" and would be delisted at the end of the season, Jaensch set about trying to salvage his career for the second time by regaining the respect of his coaches and teammates.

"Getting suspended by the club was definitely an eye-opener for me," Jaensch told afc.com.au.

"You don't want to be on the wrong side of the club or the media because it doesn't just impact on you, it impacts your family as well.

"I had to regain a lot of respect from the playing group and that was one of the reasons I wanted to knuckle down.

"I was on a one-year rookie contract, so there were no guarantees and I had to do everything right."

Jaensch's attitude and commitment improved and he was recalled to the team in round 13.

The neat-kicking utility played eight of the last 10 games and instead of being delisted at the end of the year, was promoted to Adelaide's senior list, but his newfound desire to succeed didn't end there.

A parting comment from retiring skipper Simon Goodwin stuck in Jaensch's mind, and inspired him to approach his second pre-season with a different mindset to the first.

"Goody spoke to me about making the decision to be good," he said.

"He said, 'you can be a good footballer and still eat a packet of chips, but if you want to be a great footballer, you won't eat the packet of chips', and it's those little things and the attention to detail that separates the good players from the great players."

Jaensch embraced Goodwin's advice to the point he started weighing everything he ate.

"I came from a fair way back in my first year in terms of my fitness and my weight, so I hardly had a break at the end of last season and really started watching my diet," he said.

"When I went to restaurants, I would ask for my food not to be cooked in oil or butter, and if there were mashed potatoes I'd ask if there was oil, butter or salt in it.

"I weighed food at home and had a portion counter. I wanted to do everything down to a tee."

Jaensch's strict diet didn't impress restaurant workers in Hahndorf, where he lives with his parents and makes the 50-minute journey from to West Lakes every morning, but it helped him improve his skin folds and - he believes - has contributed to his impressive start to the season.

Jaensch broke into the Adelaide team as a crumbing forward, but has settled in defence in the opening nine rounds and impressed coach Neil Craig with his revered kicking skills, composure and speed.

The maturing defender accepts he's made mistakes in the past.

His happy-go-lucky and fun-loving nature won't change, but he hopes to follow in the footsteps of role model Michael Doughty, who transformed himself from "a bit of an idiot" when he arrived at the club to a respected member of the leadership group.

"I'm a joker, but I can also be serious and I think I've found a better balance in that," he said.

"The under-18 thing was a hard lession to learn, but it makes it a lot sweeter realising your dream when people write you off and say, 'your attitude stinks, this stinks and we don't think you're going to make it'.

"It made me work harder and I definitely know I never want to be in that place ever again."

Katrina Gill covers Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill