Second-year midfielder Ryley Sanders has produced an eye-catching display during the Western Bulldogs' intra-club match in Maroochydore during the week.
The young Indigenous on-baller amassed over 30 disposals and kicked three goals in a performance that will certainly do his selection chances no harm for the club's opening round clash against North Melbourne next month.
The highly-talented 20-year-old was drafted with the club's first pick – sixth overall – in the 2023 AFL National Draft and featured in 14 AFL games in his first season at the club.
Despite showing promising signs, Sanders fell out of selection favour and was named as the team's substitute on a couple of occasions and spent seven games at VFL level.
Sanders looked a class above in the VFL, averaging 32 disposals per game for Footscray, while also registering a 33-touch nine-clearance performance against the AFL Academy in a trial match.
The Bulldogs will be searching for midfield replacements to cover the losses of the departing Jack Macrae and Bailey Smith, and injured star Adam Treloar, who is expected to miss up to three months with a calf injury.
Star half back Bailey Dale lauded Sanders' game when speaking of the team's better performers during the intra-club match.
"Definitely Sando, he burst out of the midfield a few times and I think he ended up with three or four goals," Dale said.
"For him to do that and start to play a bit more midfield time for us that will be great."
Dale earmarked Sanders as one of the players set for a more prominent role in the Bulldogs' on-ball unit.
"I feel like Sando has had a really, really good preseason and Riley Garcia as well, just being able to fill those holes we are probably going to have early on in the season with Adsy (Treloar) out.
"Plus, losing guys like Jack (Macrae) and CD (Daniel) last year, there are plenty of options for those guys now to roll through the mids, and I'm sure they're going to take it with both hands."
The classy midfielder had an exceptional junior career, which included being named captain of the U18 All-Australian team.
Sanders won the Larke Medal as the best performed player across the 2023 AFL National Championships and was the captain of the undefeated Allies team.
He looms as a potential target for Tasmania ahead of its entry into the AFL in 2028.
In other news for the Bulldogs, star forward Jamarra Ugle-Hagan has completed a training session with the club's VFL team on Monday night.
Ugle-Hagan went through his paces with Footscray's squad at the Whitten Oval as part of his flexible training program as he works to overcome personal issues.
