PLAYING football finally clicked again for Dale Thomas at the MCG on Sunday.
Statistically, the Carlton midfielder produced his best game in Blues colours and his most impressive performance since 2012, under the Schick AFL Player Ratings system.
• Schick AFL Player Ratings: Who are your club's leaders?
Thomas' 26.8 points in the Blues' 15-point win over Essendon was his highest since he notched his career-high points tally of 31.7 in round 10, 2012 against Gold Coast.
That was when Thomas was in career-best form at Collingwood, just a season after being labelled the best player in the AFL by Fremantle coach Ross Lyon.
Thomas' 14 contested possessions and nine intercept possessions among his 31 disposals were also the most he has gathered in a game in four years.
The 28-year-old left the Magpies at the end of 2013 and signed a four-year deal to join Mick Malthouse at Carlton.
It is fair to say things have not panned out as Thomas and the club might have anticipated back then.
Despite high hopes, Thomas failed to make a positive imprint on Carlton during his first year at the club in 2014.
Then a serious shoulder injury, which required a reconstruction halfway through last season, hampered his 2015 campaign.
Thomas has had his fair share of criticism but he always maintained that he would eventually find his way.
"I've always known in the back of my mind that if I can play and string games together and have good pre-seasons that I'd get there eventually," Thomas said on Monday.
"I've copped it pretty harshly externally, but the footy club's had my back the whole way, and I'm appreciative of that."
The veteran midfielder, who faces off against his former side Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, is confident he can recapture the form that saw him become an All Australian in 2011.
"I want to become a really good player for this footy club, and hopefully I’m taking some steps in that direction," Thomas said.
'Daisy's' top 10 Player Ratings games (since 2010)
31.7 against Gold Coast in round 10, 2012
26.8 against Essendon in round six, 2016
25.7 against West Coast in round 10, 2011
23.2 against Carlton in round 17, 2011
22.1 against Hawthorn in round four, 2010
21.6 against Hawthorn in round 15, 2011
21.3 against Adelaide in round nine, 2011
20.9 against Richmond in round four, 2011
20.9 against Brisbane Lions in round 10, 2010
20.1 against Geelong in round 16, 2012
*Thomas' previous best game for Carlton was round 10, 2014 against Adelaide – 17.4 points (20th-best of his career).
