AMID the eclectic combination of Geelong's forwards, Jackie Parry stands calm and tall.

The 176cm key forward is comfortably having a career-best season at the age of 30, having kicked 28 goals to date, and was in the running for the League leading goalkicker until the final day of the home and away season. Her previous best season tally was a comparatively meagre 16 majors.

She's also one of the best contested marks in the competition this year, sitting one behind first-placed Jac Dupuy.

While the midfield's strong form and Geelong's revamped gameplan has some influence behind the rise in form, there was a steely focus already evident in Parry after Geelong's 13th-placed finish last year.

"She had a fierce determination in the off-season, she really wanted to be a leader in this program and wanted to be back playing finals in this group. December was when we had that initial conversation, then she had a really strong off-season and has matured as a player," coach Mick Stinear said.

"Her aerial game is really strong at the moment. It's also a reflection of how the team is playing – the forwards are benefiting from a little more predictability with our inside to outside, and how we're shifting the ball, and I think they're enjoying their footy together, which is important."

Parry herself credits her season to a number of things, including "probably a bit of age and maturity", as well as a personal desire and ownership over dragging Geelong back up the ladder.

"Knowing the capability of this team and what we could achieve, falling short last year hurt a lot," Parry told AFL.com.au.

"Coming into this year and knowing Mick and having history with him, I thought what better opportunity to share with him how ambitious we are as a team and where we want to get to, and making it very clear to him that we are capable, and everyone is itching to play finals again.

"From an individual point of view, I was a bit disappointed with my accuracy in front of goal, so definitely wanted to work with our forwards coach Elise Coventry and our new development coach Sam Simpson this year."

Parry also credits a team effort in lifting her game and helping to clunk those marks, including close teammate and key back Claudia Gunjaca.

"I've got stronger in the gym, which has helped a little bit. Mick said something to me really early in my career at the Dees, which was to not spend heaps of time working on your weaknesses, but really refine the things that are your strengths, which for me, is my contested marking. He's always been really hot on that," Parry said.

"It was one of the first things he said to me, again, at the Cats. He showed me a few clips of where he felt I could improve in that space as well, there's always growth, and he's always trying to get better.

"Claudia Gunjaca and I have played with each other for a long time, and she's a contested beast in the backline. She's put a lot of work into me as well. She's been a great match-up – the defenders are who you play against all pre-season, so your forward line only improves if your defenders really challenge you."

Parry has maintained working as a financial manager at consulting firm KPMG two days a week, living in Altona, which is on the west side of Melbourne with fairly straightforward access down the highway to Geelong.

"KMPG are really good – I was a bit nervous to ask to work two days a week, because it's a pretty big ask in a professional services firm, but they were very good about it. A few of my colleagues come and watch, and I get a message from my boss after a game, so they're all very supportive," she said.

"It's so good for my brain to not be full-time. If I had Thursday off (completely), I'd just be thinking full-time about football, and fixate on things. It's nice to have a bit of a mental break to think about something else. 

"They complement each other very well – if I've had a tough game, and go to work, I've got to get the job done at work, and I'm not going to fixate on every mistake. And vice versa – if work's getting stressful, I love coming down to the football club and having a kick with my friends."

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