Western Bulldogs recruit Mitch Hannan says he is excited to be returning to the Kennel.

The 26-year-old, who featured in Footscray’s VFL premiership four years ago, said he is looking forward to reuniting with some of the players and forwards coach Ash Hansen, who coached him in 2016.

“For me it’s very exciting - my semi-professional journey in football started with the Footscray Bulldogs, and a lot of the coaches and some of the players that were there at the time are still there,” Hannan told media on Tuesday.

“Even though (I didn’t play) in the AFL, I’m very excited to be coming back and joining the Western Bulldogs at the same facilities where this all began.

“Ash is a great man for one, but he also instilled a lot of belief in me in my early days coming through the VFL system.

“To see me progress with my football up to AFL level, and for him to still be at the club and be directly aligned as the forward-line coach, it was even more enticing to be able to play underneath him knowing I’ve already got a relationship with him.”

Hannan, a crafty forward boasting good speed and aerial abilities, said it was a combination of opportunities available and familiar faces that attracted him back to the Kennel.

“I pride myself on my speed, agility and goal sense, which was something that (the Bulldogs) were looking to add to their list,” he said.

“It’s nice to be wanted by a team, but for the Bulldogs to reach out knowing I had already been there and knowing some of the personnel, it was enticing to come back and join them.

“Melbourne gave me plenty of opportunities in the early days to flourish and find my feet in the team, and then through a mixture of injuries and some other personnel at (Melbourne) playing a similar role to me, I found myself in and out of the team.

“I think I still have a lot to offer, and looking forward I still think I have plenty of football ahead of me -  I feel like personally I will fit in quite well with the way and style (the Bulldogs) play their football.”