WHEN it comes to mentors, Western Bulldogs forward Ayce Cordy is spoilt for choice.

The 22-year-old has just 14 games under his belt, but is gleaning as much insight as possible from someone who has stood on the premiership dais three times.

Geelong hero Cameron Mooney has volunteered his services to Cordy as part of his role as a specialist coach at the Bulldogs, and as a result the father-son pick is growing in confidence.

"He [Mooney] came to the club and the first thing he said to me was 'All right, I'm here for whatever you need of me and I'll work with you in whatever you want to do'," Cordy told AFL.com.au.

"He's got me in the ring a couple of times, and smacked me around the head just to teach me a bit of sense.

"He works pretty closely with me during match practices … and game reviews.

"He's really big on trying to keep your confidence up and just doing the right things, always, one after the other, and good things will happen."

Another mentor at his fingertips is Bulldogs legend Chris Grant.

In particular, Cordy is motivated by the way Grant rose up the ranks from a skinny teenager to become one of the club's most treasured players.

"He's definitely a legend at this football club and definitely a legend throughout the AFL," Cordy said.

"You look at blokes like him, but you're not going to try and be Chris Grant, because you know everyone wants to be Chris Grant.

"You take bits and pieces from them and he's on the board at the club now so we've got a lot of great mentors."

Standing at 202cm, Cordy's focus has been on filling out his frame.

He's added 26kg since joining the club after the 2008 NAB AFL Draft, and is feeling more confident in his body as a result.

"I've put on the kilos over the last probably three or four years. I haven't put on a great deal this pre-season. I'm just trying to get used to running with it, and moving with it, so hopefully the agility is starting to come back," Cordy said.

While it's been hard work maintaining the new weight, Cordy can draw from the experiences of both Mooney and Grant as he embarks on what he hopes is a breakout year.

"They've all been through it before. None of them were big power forwards when they first arrived at their clubs, and they grew into the role and they worked their butts off to get there."