Key facts:
Guernsey Number: 22
Age: 24
Career Games: 76
Career Goals: 18
Debut: 2006

Season 2012:
Games: 17
Goals: 7
Disposals: 232 (13.6)
Marks: 81 (4.8)
Tackles: 40 (2.4)

Season Overview:
After making four appearances in 2011, Dylan Addison has noticeably stepped up his game this year, including finding a new niche as a defensive forward. His unrelenting style of play suits Coach Brendan McCartney’s contested ball mantra, allowing him to cement his spot in the starting line-up. Fierce at the contest, Addison missed a month of football after enduring a broken jaw in the Bulldogs clash with Essendon in round 14. On return to the senior side in round 19, the 24 year old found himself predominantly playing forward and looked quite comfortable doing so.

By the numbers:
While his natural game style doesn’t lend itself to high possession numbers, he was one disposal off equalling his career best for the season with 232 touches this year (his personal best is 233 in 2008). An increased confidence in his overhead marking has him taking almost two more marks per game than last year, which also sees him ranked fourth in total marks at the Club this season and sixth in total contested marks. His team first mentality, sees him place seventh in total one percenters at the Bulldogs.

Watch Dylan Addison's four goal haul against Sydney Swans on the media player above.
 
Season Highlight:
A career best four goals against Sydney in round 21 would rate high on the list for Addison but it could be argued that his return in round 19 was his best game for the year. With 21 disposals, seven marks (four contested), three tackles, two goals and three behinds, he announced himself as a potential forward option and took the game by the scruff of the neck. Had he been more accurate in front of goals he could have been the game changer.

Pre-Season Focus:
With a more permanent shift up forward a potential outcome for next year, spending time learning the craft could be on the cards. He has shown he has an innate ability to find goals, however his accuracy in front of the big sticks can improve. With his increased versatility likely to become one of his biggest assets, Addison will be keen to embrace the new role and learn to maximise his influence both defensively and on the scoreboard.

View Dylan Addison's player profile and season stats here.