Jack Macrae could always find his own footy, but a better grasp of the intricacies of modern football has him on track to becoming one of the top breakout contenders in the AFL in 2014.
The 19-year-old notched up 30 possessions and laid six hard-fought tackles in a stellar display in the Western Bulldogs' gritty two-point win over Richmond.
Macrae was one of the best ball winners in the TAC Cup competition in 2012 and the Bulldogs were quick to pounce on him with pick No. 6 in that year's draft.
Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney could see the obvious talent, but he was dumbfounded by some of the habits that had crept into his young charge's game.
"He arrived at our club with no idea how to find his man," McCartney said.
"He was amazed when we asked him to stand in certain spot at a stoppage. 'What do you mean? I just go where I want', he said to me.
"So I don't want to knock that out of him. But what the coaching group has been able to do is (add) that little bit of formality to his game."
Macrae has been working closely with three-time Geelong premiership player and now Bulldogs development coach Joel Corey.
McCartney, who was an assistant coach with the Cats when Corey's development spiked, can see the resemblance between the two.
"He's coming along really well. He's so much like Joel Corey at the same age," McCartney said.
Corey was one of the best two-way runners in the League in his prime and he is imparting his knowledge to Macrae.
"He's (Corey) been huge for me," Macrae told AFL.com.au.
"Both defensively and offensively he's teaching me how to become a more damaging player.
"He speaks to me when I come to the bench about the little things I need to work on, mainly around finding a man and not ball-watching as much."
When the Bulldogs struggled to hold the surging Tigers at bay in the second half, it was the composure of Macrae and the experience of Robert Murphy that helped get them over the line.
Macrae says he has a much clearer idea about how the team wants to function.
"In the under-18s you can just ball-watch and go out and get a kick and have a bit of fun," he said.
"But compliance is a big talking point for us. It's not only knowing my role, predominantly as a winger, but knowing everyone's responsibilities so then I can help educate all the other players."
That means Macrae is not afraid to speak up if he notices something awry in how the team is setting up at stoppages.
"Not only that, but talking up in meetings as well. When you first come in here, you just want to be a bit quiet and learn the ropes.
"But all the older boys have been really good and they take the feedback on the chin."
