Michael Talia
Guernsey number: 32
2013 games: 9
Career games: 13
2013 goals: 0
Career goals: 1
2013 Brownlow votes: 1
Career Brownlow votes: 1
 

Season in short:

Talia enjoyed expanded opportunities in his second season with the Bulldogs. The young defender broke into the side in round 10, playing nine straight matches thereafter and averaging an impressive 19.3 disposals per game. Talia earned the Rising Star Nomination with a critically important 32-disposal, five-mark effort in the narrow win against GWS. With a seemingly innate ability to find the footy, the running backman ranked third of the Rising Star nominees for disposals per game and finished fourth for effective disposal average.

Stat that mattered:

It was Talia’s average stats in the VFL seniors that stood out from nine games this season. Accuracy has been high on the 20-year-old’s agenda this season and his extra work paid off at the state level averaging 79.3% efficiency (73.4% kicking efficiency). The Calder Cannons recruit also averaged almost seven marks per game.

What they said:

“Talia is in good form at the moment. Defending well and getting quite a bit of the ball, considering it was such a one sided game. He rebounded well out of the back 50 and his run from behind was excellent and he used the ball well.”

- Development Manager Chris Maple after Williamstown’s win over Bendigo Gold in May 2013

Pre-season focus:

The 20-year-old showed he is more than capable of getting his hands on the ball but as a key defender will to continue to develop his one on one defensive craft under Rohan Smith and Matthew Scarlett’s tutelage. Kicking efficiency has been and will continue to be focus as will building his frame to further contend with the bigger bodied forwards in the AFL.

In the news: 

Bulldogs tie up Talia

Dogs pressure on rise

Talia earns Rising Star nomination