Exciting forward Arty Jones says playing his first game in the red, white and blue has realised the dreams he had as a kid.

Jones, hailing from Mount Barker in Western Australia, got his opportunity at senior level in Thursday night’s round three win against Brisbane.

Speaking to SEN the morning after, the 19-year-old said he was pinching himself.

“I’m living out every boy’s dream - it’s as good as it gets,” Jones said.

“You think about this moment ever since you’re a young kid, in the backyard kicking goals between the fences thinking that’s your AFL stage.

“I think I was dead serious in the locker rooms before the warm-up, but then looking up the raceway I think it hit me then. I just thought ‘wow – kid you’re living the dream’.

“That was the moment I admired where I am and the position I’m in.

“Knowing where I’ve come from - a small town - and knowing that I’m living every kid’s dream (is what brings me joy).”

Jones was buzzing around early in the game, and played a key role in the passage that ultimately led to Jamarra Ugle-Hagan’s first goal, and moving Nicky Winmar-esque moment.

“That was a focus we had this week – our frontline pressure and not trying to get stepped,” Jones explained.

“My first real involvement in the game was against (Cam) Rayner. He just tried to step inside, so it was my job to just lay that tackle.

“It caused a turnover – which is what we love – and it just so happened to put icing on the cake that Jamarra marked it and kicked that goal for the brother boys.”

The Bulldogs registered their first win of the 2023 season with a hard-fought 14-point victory over Brisbane.