THE hard work starts now for Western Bulldogs recruit Patrick Rose, who joined the club in last Tuesday's rookie draft after spending five years honing his game at the Williamstown Seagulls in the Victorian Football League.
The 23-year-old has waited a long time to be given a chance to play AFL football and despite finally making the grade, he says "there's a lot of hard work to go".
"It's very exciting, I'd been trying to get on the list for five years so it's great to finally get there," Rose said.
"They told me my fitness needed to improve - that it had to go up quite a lot, so I've trained every day since my season with the Seagulls ended and it's really paid off.
"But I still have a long way to go."
Rose follows in the footsteps of former Seagull Liam Picken, who joined the Bulldogs from the club last season, and says he hopes to do "just as well".
"Liam works extremely hard and deserves to be playing where he is," Rose said.
"It's important for me to train hard after Christmas and hopefully get some games in the NAB Cup.
"I'm only concentrating on my short-term goals for now."
Rose joined Williamstown after spending time at the Spotswood Football Club and the Western Jets, and it was at the Seagulls that he attracted the attention of the Bulldogs after scoring 163 goals in 73 matches.
"I followed the Dogs when I was younger," Rose says.
"It's been great so far and it's great to work with players like Brad Johnson and [Jason] Akermanis".
BULLDOGS-BOUN D
INTRODUCING the rest of the rookies to land at Whitten Oval last week.
Brodie Moles: Taken with pick 19, the 24-year-old mature-age selection could be seen as ready-made should the Bulldogs experience injury woes next season.
A noted possession gatherer, the former Geelong rookie could slot into the midfield or, at 184 centimetres and 83kilograms, become a pinch-hitter in the forward line.
Andrew Hooper: The first of two players who could turn out to be rookie list "steals".
You can't question the credentials of the former North Ballarat Rebels TAC Cup mid-sized player who was drafted with pick 35.
He claimed the Larke Medal for best player at the under-18 national championships while playing for Vic Metro and top 5per cent testing at the draft camp for speed and agility.
Matthew Panos: Who would have thought the All-Australian full-forward at the under-18 national championship could fall to 49th in the rookie draft? The Bulldogs were delighted to read out the name of a South Australian noted for his contested marking and precision goalkicking.
He booted 14 goals and reeled in 25 marks during the national carnival.
Eddie Prato: The rookie draft is often used for speculative picks and this towering ruckman fits the mould.
Recruited from Maryborough with pick 59, Prato stands at a massive 200cm and was once a US high school basketballer.
It should come as no shock that the Bulldogs plan to use him as a ruckman.
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