It’s not often a fourth year player can claim being one of the experienced heads of a winning team, but this week Mitch Wallis can do just that.

The Bulldogs fielded their youngest side of the season against the Gold Coast Suns in Cairns - with half the team boasting less experience than 55-gamer Wallis.

Furthermore, there were seven players in their third season on an AFL list or less, while another five players were from Wallis’ draft class.

“We are building a strong team… and when you get players under you like [Marcus] Bontempelli and [Jack] Macrae it is really exciting for the future,” Wallis told SEN radio.

“They have already shown glimpses of what they can do, to do that on a more consistent basis that will come with experience.

“It’s very exciting from a player, who has only been there four years, but feels like there’s so much youth underneath him.”

Individually Mitch Wallis played one of his best games of the season in the win against the Gold Coast, collecting 28 touches (13 contested) at 89.3% efficiency and eight clearances.

Ranked first in contested football over the past month, Wallis said winning at the contest had a flow on effect and helped them get the game on their own terms.

“The last month we’ve been really good and it’s no surprise that the other areas of our game have been picking up,” he said.

“At the end of the day the review is on all areas of the game and there are still some deficiencies that we have to work on.

“But contested ball is a big tick and off the back of that we score better and we defend better – so that’s a starting point.”