Off-season recruit Mitch Hannan will make his Western Bulldogs debut against Richmond at the MCG on Friday night.
The 27-year-old joined the Bulldogs from Melbourne at the end of 2020.
Hannan played 50 AFL games and kicked 55 goals across four seasons as a Demon.
He was originally drafted from Footscray’s VFL program – and is one of four players to have come through that system currently on the Bulldogs’ AFL list, alongside Anthony Scott, Ryan Gardner and Will Hayes.
Hannan has featured for Footscray in the first two rounds of this VFL season after an interrupted pre-season overcoming a groin injury.
He kicked three goals from 13 disposals last week against the GWS Giants, spending time forward and on a wing, to push his case for selection.
“Mitch’s speed was electric, especially in the forward half,” development coach Travis Varcoe said after last week’s win against the Giants.
“To be able to turn 1v1’s into wins and generate forward-half turnovers and scoring opportunities was great. He’s been important for us the last couple of weeks.”
Hannan will add to a forward line that leads the competition for scoring in 2021 after six rounds.
“I pride myself on my speed, agility and goal sense, which was something that (the Bulldogs) were looking to add to their list,” Hannan said last year after the trade went through.
“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.
“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.”
