Emerging defender Ryan Gardner has only played nine AFL games.

But with each game at the level, he’s starting to look more and more comfortable with the tough task of going head-to-head with the competition’s power forwards.

On Sunday night, he had one of those match-defining moments.

Marcus Bontempelli won the game with that captain’s goal with only minutes remaining.

But Gardner’s intervention after the three-quarter time siren was just as important, as the Bulldogs retained the momentum – and a one-point lead – at the final change.

With Jack Darling lining up for goal from 50 metres out, Gardner’s awareness and leap on the mark prevented a West Coast Eagles goal.

“I thought – obviously he’s outside 50, he’s probably going to have to get pretty close to the mark,” Gardner told westernbulldogs.com.au.

“He probably doesn’t know how I play and I know I’ve got a bit of a jump on me.

“It was good to time it right and jump as high as I could and lucky to get a finger on it which was good.”

It’s been a whirlwind 15 months for the 23-year-old, who joined the AFL list via the Footscray Bulldogs in the 2019 NAB AFL Mid-Season Rookie Draft and made his league debut that same week.

He’s now played the last five games, as the Bulldogs keep pushing for wins and a finals berth.

“We knew we were good enough and it’s just obviously getting across the line,” Gardner said of the confidence-boosting result.

“A few games we’ve lost were close, and we just need those wins.

“To be able to hold on like that in a close game… it was great to get the points.”