When a young player joins an AFL club, the coach will point out a senior team-mate whose fierce training workrate epitomises what is expected at the highest level.

At Geelong, it is fair to say All-Australian Darren "Dasher" Milburn is definitely not that shining light on the track.

But when Cats coach Mark Thompson wants to point out what a young kid should aim for during the ferocity of a senior match, Milburn is your man.

Thompson had great enjoyment on Wednesday poking fun at his 31-year-old warhorse.

"He (Milburn) looks after himself - he doesn't do any training during the week, he goes at about half pace," he said, before having a chuckle at an obvious in-joke at Geelong.

"He's a reasonable trainer and he's a good preparer of his own body.

"He knows what he has to do and ... once they have the consistent performances, you allow a bit of a licence with people to do what they individually need.

"He's got it worked out, I think."

He has played all 10 games this season for a total of 223 and has become a timeless AFL veteran, in the mould of North Melbourne great John Blakey.

Milburn just keeps doing whatever Thompson asks of him.

Milburn earnt his All-Australian selection last year in defence, but in the last fortnight Geelong have moved him forward to great effect.

"He just amazes us how he can play so many different roles inside one game," Thompson said.

"We've often used him on the ball and we've often used him forward.

"The last two weeks, he's gone forward and really helped us.

"It's just amazing the way he sees a game and is able to play the game, it's extraordinary, because not many guys can do it - move positions so quickly."

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