Welcome mat out for new Bulldog breed

FOUR young men from all corners of Australia sat side by side on Monday afternoon, united by their status as the newest players to join the Western Bulldogs.

They flanked coach Rodney Eade, who, like a proud father, introduced his new breed of players just four days after picking them from a field of hundreds.

On Eade's far left was Indigenous talent Shane Thorne, the mature-aged wingman who considered quitting football altogether just two years ago.

Next to Thorne was Canberra's Jason Tutt, who joins Sydney Swans' defender Craig Bolton as the only other ACT-born players on an AFL list next year.

On Eade's right was the Dogs' top pick, Glenelg half-back Christian Howard, who surprised many when his draft registration number followed selection No.15 last Thursday night.

And finally, there was former Hawthorn rookie and Box Hill captain Lukas Markovic. He was the most comfortable of the quartet, having been part of the big league before.

The first question from the media was directed towards Howard, the player the Dogs rated highly enough to snare him in the first round. 

The 18-year-old's manager told him he was a possible top-20 selection but he didn't want to raise his hopes too high.

"I was just stoked to go," Howard said. "I didn't have any expectations."

Eade said Howard, who impressed the Dogs with his 70 per cent kicking efficiency and running endurance, matched the profile the club was after with its first selection.

Next was Markovic, who slotted into the Dogs' pre-Christmas training the day after the draft.

Having tasted life at an AFL club in 2006 when he was on the Hawks' rookie list, the 23-year-old was given the green light to commence training with his new side as soon as his colours were confirmed.

"I'm confident I can take it up to the next level and hopefully there's a spot for me in the back six," he said.

"I'm looking forward to a good pre-season and putting on another couple of kilos and try and get a spot there."

Thorne, the 23-year-old cousin of new Richmond recruit Troy Taylor, was asked about how he reversed a decision to retire just two years ago.

"A few of my mates got close to me and had a good yarn. I'd played a lot of footy with them and they told me to keep my head up."

Two years later finds himself in Melbourne with an opportunity to play the game at the highest level.

The last player to be questioned was Tutt. The baby-faced teenager showed elite endurance with equal fourth in the beep test (level 14.12) and sixth in repeat sprints (24.39 seconds) at the October NAB AFL Draft Camp.

He was clearly elated to commence his AFL career 11 years after playing his first game.

"It feels pretty good. There was a lot of family excitement when my name got called out," he said.

"It's good to be down here. I'm pretty keen to start training and get into the swing of things.

"I didn't really expect to go at pick 31. When my name went across the screen I was pretty excited and happy to come down."