Over the past few months, development manager Chris Maple has taken a look at the Bulldogs' young guns and has provided an update on their progression this season. In this final instalment, he takes a look at the club's rookies, both current and elevated. 

JAMES MULLIGAN - elevated for the 2010 season
"He’s come from a different background out of Queensland. He hadn’t played a huge amount of AFL footy prior to getting here, so he’s in a different phase of his development.

"We’re happy with his progress. He’s played half and half this year in the VFL, sometimes in the seniors and sometimes in the seconds, but before this year he hadn’t played a game of VFL senior footy.

"He’s developing and improving, and he’s moulding his game now where he can play down back and in the ruck. We’re seeing some improvement in him, and he needs to keep doing that to try and force his way into the side, realistically next year.

"He’s pretty versatile; he’s a big boy - 200cm - and very fast."

LIAM PICKEN - elevated for the 2010 season
"He’s having a really solid year. He’s another one who’s bounced back from an injury really early in the year. His value to our team is just vital with the role he plays.

"He’s just fantastic. His courage every week is unquestionable, and we’re just really rapt with his progress and how important a member of the team he’s become over the past two years."

JAMASON DANIELS - selection No.14, 2009 NAB AFL Rookie Draft
"He’s played seven or eight senior VFL games and his form was really good in the seconds. It’s just hard with the 12-10 rule in the VFL because they can’t all get games in the finals.

"He’s missing out at the moment whereas he’s probably good enough to be getting a game.

"He’s improving, and hopefully he can continue to. Last year, he only played two senior VFL games, so he’s done well to get a few more this year. In that respect he’s done better and he’s moulded his game to become a bit more of an inside midfielder."

BRODIE MOLES - selection No.19, 2010 NAB AFL Rookie Draft
"It’s been great for him to come in after being at Geelong for two years and not getting an opportunity. We’ve been very happy with him so far.

"He’s only played about four VFL games, so he actually hasn’t been out of the side that much. He’s just got to make sure he has that continual work rate that’s required at AFL level for him to improve. We think potentially he’s got that, and he just needs to continue to work hard in that area to become a regular inclusion in the seniors."

ANDREW HOOPER - selection No.35, 2010 NAB AFL Rookie Draft
"He’s got a great work rate, he’s very coachable and he’s a competitive little fella, which is what you need to be when you’re his height (172cm).

"He’s a real team man, gives a lot of positive talk and he’s just good to have in the group. It’s great to see him get a game in the AFL in the finals."

MATTHEW PANOS - selection No.48, 2010 NAB AFL Rookie Draft
"He’s from South Australia, he’s a key forward and he’s probably played about half his year in the VFL seniors and half in the reserves. He’s kicked a large volume of goals for the year; he’s a beautiful kick and probably one of the best set shots at the club.

"He’s also got reasonable hands, but he’s just got to keep working on his athletic traits to get him up to a level to play AFL footy. He needs a bit of fitness and speed to get him up to the level - he’s definitely got the skills."

EDDIE PRATO - selection No.59, 2010 NAB AFL Rookie Draft
"He’s an interesting one because he’s come from a basketball background and he’s really only played three games of footy before this year. He’s doing really well to the point where he played a game of senior VFL footy in August, which was great for him.

"He’s regularly in the best players in the reserve level and has improved out of sight. We’d call him a project player, a tall ruckman with a massive vertical jump. He’s working hard to get better. I can see him playing quite a bit of VFL senior footy."

PATRICK ROSE - selection No.68, 2010 NAB AFL Rookie Draft
"He’s a mature-aged rookie and part of the Williamstown connection. I think he’s done well to get on the list. Early on, he was probably trying too hard, but now that’s he’s relaxed a bit more, he’s got more comfortable and has been outstanding in the last six or seven weeks.

"He’s kicked a lot of goals. We were trying to develop him into a player that can go into the midfield and up forward, but his real strength is as a forward. Next year we’re hoping to continue to develop him to play both roles."