If necessity is the mother of invention, what could possibly be driving Bernard Brogan to continue his astounding reinvention?
Five All-Ireland wins, a four-time All-Star and the 2010 Footballer of the Year, there is nothing that the Dubliner has not achieved in Gaelic Football.
However, the 33-year old who will be 34 by the time this year's Championship begins remains an active component of Jim Gavin's incredibly driven side.
Well, speaking on Eir Sport's National League review show, two former inter-county Dubs in Denis Bastick and Senan Connell took some time to study Brogan's willingness to adapt as needs be.
Comparing his hard-running game of a few years ago, where the Plunketts man could come deep, turn sharply and leave any corner-back for dead, with his more nuanced approach, the insight from Connell and Bastick is incredibly sharp:
SC: His remit now is the collective approach.
DB: He's still picking up those great positions ... making really good runs, but then he is changing round what he is doing with the ball.
Highlighting the manner in which Brogan is willing to turn provider, finding the same space as always, but exploiting it in a new way, the two former Dubs believe this is the key to Brogan's continued presence in Gavin's thoughts:
SC: Bernard Brogan has that understanding of runners [and] rather than being a one-dimensional scorer ... I think he has evolved into that kind of footballer and it is symptomatic of where Dublin are going and emblematic of what Dublin are nowadays that it's the collective approach.
One of the oldest outfield players in Gavin's side, Brogan had previously looked like his days at inter-county level may have been numbered.
With the sheer abundance of young, talented players coming behind him, it is a testament to his astounding ability and willingness to adapt and develop that he remains where he is.
You can watch the full analysis below:
Denis Bastick & Senan Connell look at the change in @bernardbrogan's game in that last number of years. You can watch #AllianzLeaguesReloaded here: https://t.co/kJVdI2Pk2O pic.twitter.com/p2T5ePXyUz
— eir Sport (@eirSport) January 31, 2018
