Recently rated by Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade as "probably the hardest (player) we've got in the team", the 20-year-old has based his 24 games around vigorous tackling and throwing himself into contests.
Growing up in Sydney without a top-level underage competition to participate in, he credits being thrust into senior football with Sydney Football League club St George at an early age for the physical side of his game.
"I think it's something that's really grown as I've gotten bigger and grown up with the game and certainly come to the (Bulldogs) footy club," Addison said.
"I played a lot of senior football back home, I didn't have the TAC Cup and things so I was playing against men since I was 16.
"I think that really put me in good stead to adapt to the physicality of the AFL."
A close view of the no-fear approach of Brownlow Medallist Kelly while growing up also influenced him.
"He's probably been my inspiration as a player to look up to and follow in his footsteps," Addison said.
Addison has fitted in well with the Bulldogs' emphasis this season on contested football and hard tackling as the platform for their running game.
After a total of 13 games in his first two seasons, he has played every game so far this year.
And a love of the tough contests is a quality that is likely to come in handy against Collingwood at Telstra Dome on Sunday.
The Magpies will be fired up after last weekend's loss to Carlton, which followed an unconvincing win over Melbourne the previous round.
The Bulldogs have won four of their past five encounters with Collingwood and Addison said his side tended to revel in the big-game atmosphere of playing the high-profile Magpies.
But he expected the opposition to be in a dangerous mood.
"They had a loss on the weekend, but they've proven this year that they're a good side and there's a lot of potency up forward as well," he said.
