EXCITING Western Bulldogs forward Luke Dahlhaus says playing AFL football week in week out is beyond his wildest dreams.

The rookie from the Geelong Falcons has been a revelation during a disappointing season for the Dogs.

Dahlhaus told Channel 7’s Game Day he was thriving on playing at the elite level and enjoying the lifestyle that goes along with it.

“It’s a dream come true running out there every weekend, and I’m loving it,” Dahlhaus said.

“Probably you just go in every day you go in to the club and there’s just stars there, and you become great friends with everyone.

“Just the footy club environment, I just love it.”

The 19-year-old missed out on selection in last year’s NAB AFL Draft, with teams citing his lack of size and kicking skills as possible reasons as to why he was overlooked.

After training with Geelong, he was selected by the Bulldogs with pick number 22 in last year’s rookie draft.

He was determined to make his mark down at the Kennel, and got his chance under former coach Rodney Eade and would like to continue to impress under a new coach next year.

The youngster is renowned for his dreadlocks, but it was his football exploits that earned him the round 21 nomination for the NAB AFL Rising Star.

Dahlhaus said it has been a good learning process this year.

“You’ve just got to take it in your stride and just don’t get ahead of yourself or anything like that,” he said.

“[My body’s] a little bit sore at them moment, I’ve had a bit of trouble with the groins but I should be right to finish out the season.”

He has developed into a cult hero down at the Whitten Oval, with his electrifying speed and desire to tackle regularly lifting the team’s faithful out of their seats, and he says he enjoys the adrenalin of the crowd.

“When you hear the crowd and you get the ball you just want to do good things,” he said.

Dahlhaus said he has garnered plenty of advice from retiring senior teammates Ben Hudson and Barry Hall.

Hall has been in superb form since announcing his retirement, kicking 26 goals in five games, and Dahlhaus feels as though Hall is not worrying about his age as he approaches the final game of his illustrious career. 

“He’s got a bit of Benjamin Button about him actually; his last few games have been amazing,” Dahlhaus said.

“I think the pressure’s gone off him because he knows he’s finishing.”

The Dogs recently re-signed eight of their best young stars including Easton Wood, Liam Picken, Tom Williams, Jarrad Grant, Jayden Schofield, Jason Tutt and father-son recruits Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis.

Dahlhaus wants to be part of the new era at the Whitten Oval, and he hopes his contract will be sorted in the next couple of weeks.