Growing in confidence with each of the four games he has played, top line talent Jack Macrae has already made an impact on the senior side with his trademark outside flair.

Given the NAB Rising Star nod for his performance against Gold Coast on Saturday, Western Bulldogs Development Coach Ashley Hansen said the outing was just the tip of the iceberg for the 18-year-old recruit.

“He’s just a great run and carry player who can really get some great metres gained and we wanted to use his strength,” Hansen said.

“It’s exciting going forward that he is now getting into positions where he can be used for those roles, because that is where he is going to be most damaging.”

Surpassing his previous career best 16 disposals before half time, Macrae’s ability to find space while in possession and dispose of the ball to his teammate’s advantage indicate he will be an impact player when he continues to develop. 

“I think he’s always had good skills but what he’s really been getting better at is his decision making with the ball,” he said.

“Putting the ball in spots that are really dangerous and to advantage for his teammates and increase his efficiency and that is only going to be good for our side going forward.”

Macrae’s dedication in the weights room has seen him add an extra eight kilos to his slight frame to help him contend with the increased physical demands of senior football.

“He’s put on eight or nine kilos since he’s come to the Club and that has all been lean body mass it hasn’t been any fat,” he said.

“So he’s really taken to the weights program and his body has responded, which is great for him – a lot of guys have to spend years in the gym to get the gains that he’s made.”

Hansen said the 2012 draftee’s game experience and bigger body has seen his confidence grow as he learns to take the game on and play to his strengths.

“With that obviously he’s got the confidence now to play one on one and win his fair share of one on one contests, which is important especially when we want team defence,” he said.

“So it’s not just the back six defending it is the whole team and when he is playing on that wing he is going to have to slide and play defensive coverage sometimes.

“We’ve just going to make sure he’s strong enough and has the ability to defend inside 50 and sometimes that will be one on one which he was apt at on the weekend.”