IF TOBY McLean's pre-season is anything to go by, the Western Bulldogs youngster is set for a huge 2018 campaign.
The hype around the 22-year-old comes after an impressive 2017 season and a standout performance in the club's match simulation session on the weekend.
Arriving at Whitten Oval as a crafty forward with a nose for a goal and the knack of taking a screamer, the fourth-year playmaker has evolved into a midfielder who can win his own footy and is dangerous on the spread.
Stoppages coach Daniel Giansiracusa has overseen McLean's emergence in his four seasons on the club's coaching panel and is well aware of his protégé's growing importance to the Dogs.
In a breakout season last year, McLean averaged 22 disposals a game and kicked 13 goals across 19 games.
"(Toby is) a dual-role player in terms of he can play midfield and forward and can be dangerous," Giansiracusa said on Thursday.
"He's a competitive kid, and he has been since he first got into the footy club.
"He always wants to be better, he's knocking on the coach's door and we think wherever he plays on the field he can have an impact.
"He's had a strong and solid pre-season."
It will be interesting to see where McLean fits in Luke Beveridge's plans this season, with his versatility in line with the coach's flexibility mantra.
As last season progressed, McLean began to spend more time in the midfield, but Giansiracusa doesn't want his young charge to lose the attacking flair that makes him dangerous around goal.
"He was pretty split last year between (midfield and forward), so it will pretty similar to what he was last year," Giansiracusa said.
"In the back half (of the season) he played a bit more midfield, but I think he's a threat aerially as well.
"You don't want to take that forward craft away that he's got because he knows where the goals are as well."
A goalsneak himself during his playing days, Giansiracusa kicked 331 majors in 265 games for the Dogs, but after stepping straight into coaching following his retirement in 2014, the appeal of having his own side one day is strong.
And in the next step in his development, the 35-year-old will be at the helm when the Bulldogs face Hawthorn in Saturday's JLT Community series clash in Ballarat.
"I'm very fortunate the coaches have allowed me to have an opportunity, and I'm excited about it," he said.
"There's only two JLT (matches) this year, so it's an important part of our preparation.
"This is my fourth year of coaching, and you see the stress involved, but I love it and maybe one day down the track I hopefully get an opportunity (to coach my own side)."
