WHEN Jared Brennan bounced back from a disastrous start against Richmond last weekend to help drag Gold Coast to a win, it epitomised the transformation of one of the league's most exciting players.

Brennan gave away a 50m penalty that led directly to a Shaun Grigg goal and was having a self-confessed "shocker" in Saturday's first quarter.

But instead of meandering through the game and having no impact like he might have in his formative years, the highly skilled utility found other ways to contribute.

It started in the opening minutes of the second quarter when he applied a tackle inside the Suns' forward 50, won a free kick and booted a goal.

Brennan, still just 26, debuted for the Brisbane Lions in 2003 with a promising showing against Collingwood.

He became known for carrying the ball in one hand, taking spectacular marks and kicking freakish goals, but it's a tag he is working hard to change.

"You want your bad games to be at a level you're comfortable with," he said. "In my first three or four years, when I had a bad game, I had almost no contribution, whereas now, if I have a bad one, I like to think I still contribute in some way.

"The perfect example was last Saturday. I was having a shocker in the first quarter but I was able to work my way into the game with work-rate and things people don't see, like chase-downs and blocks and shepherds.

"They get me back into the game. I know I kicked a couple of goals at the end but that was on the end of some good play from the other guys, but I really got my way back into the game through work-rate."

Brennan almost laughs when asked whether the defensive side of the game and the one-percenters was something he had to work at.

"It's definitely something I've had to work on," he said.

"It probably started with Leigh Matthews, who drilled it into me. When I first got to Brisbane, I thought if I could take a hanger or kicked a freaky goal, that would be enough to get me in the team the next week, but as time wore on, it didn't.

"I have to work at those other things, the things I mentioned earlier like blocks and chase-downs. The freaky goals and the big marks are just the icing."

Brennan has undoubtedly been one of the most consistent Suns this season, with only he, Jarrod Harbrow and Danny Stanley playing all 15 matches.

Not only is he consistent - he averages 19 disposals per match - but Brennan has lost none of his flair, as evidenced by his incredible banana-kick goal against Hawthorn in round 13 and spectacular leap and grab over Jayden Schofield the following week.

He said moving to the Gold Coast had worked out better than he could have imagined, with the beach lifestyle and laid back surroundings perfectly suited to him, his wife and two young daughters.

Playing with such a young team has also rubbed off on Brennan.

"We've got a very humble young group with a lot of talent there and it's a real pleasure to play with them and I'm really enjoying myself," he said.

"I'm 26 but they make me feel like I'm 21 or 22 again."

Michael Whiting covers Gold Coast news for afl.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @mike_whiting