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By Jennifer Witham
6:08 PM Wed 24 June, 2009

Jarrad Grant had a harrowing introduction to AFL football

WHILE the Bulldogs picked up the pieces from their round-five loss to Carlton, debutant Jarrad Grant was battling both mind and body after an inglorious first game.

The No.5 draft pick from 2007 wasn't able to properly rehash what he just experienced on the big stage, as he came down with gastro directly after the match.

Grant said the illness, coupled with the realisation he was a lot further away from AFL standard than he originally thought, made for a tough few days.

"I didn't train all week after that so I was a bit down in the dumps. I felt alright during the game but the work rate was a lot bigger," he told westernbulldogs.com.au.

"It was just so different to the VFL standard.

"It was good to get the taste and understand what's required and where you need to improve, but obviously I've got a long way to go before I can stake my claims on the big time."

There has been speculation the young forward was blooded too soon after a long 2008 battle with osteitis pubis, and that he lost what confidence he had in his eight-possession debut.

But Grant sees it differently and says he wouldn't take the opportunity back.

"It was good to get in there and just realise what's expected," he said.

"Once you get that chance, you're able to see first hand what's expected and how to play the game at that level.

"It's good experience and one I won't forget, and hopefully there will be a few more."

The 20-year-old admitted he was somewhat surprised at the difference between NAB Cup football and the home-and-away season after showing positive form in the pre-season.

"In the pre-season, it was only the first game so prior to that, everyone just had a practice match against each other," he said.

"Round five was a step up from the pre-season because there were four points at stake."

Grant admits his recent form at Williamstown hasn't been great, having only kicked five goals across the past four games.

However, he believes the recent split round has enabled his body to freshen up and his mind as well, with the young Dog resetting his goals for the second half of the year.

"I don't really know why I've dropped off. It's a long year and I only played about six games last year, so realistically, I've made it further than I did last year," he said.

"The body feels alright but I've just got some inconsistency.

"I just wasn't getting much of the ball and having an involvement in the team, and we had a couple of losses as well so that didn't help the cause.

"I need to get better with my work-rate and the physical side of my game. I'm probably not going to have much of a stamp on the AFL with my body the way it is at the moment.

"I've just got to keep working on that through pre-seasons with hard work in the gym, and my time will hopefully come soon."

Grant said his housemate and fellow 2007 draftee Sam Reid was inching closer to his own debut after a spate of impressive games in the VFL.

"Sam is playing well, and with the Bulldogs winning it's tough to get in, but he's on the verge as he's playing well every week down at Willy," he said.

He also hasn't given up on his own hopes of making another senior appearance this year.

"As long as I play some good footy down at Willy," he said.

"Hopefully the coaches will give me another chance, but I've got to play well myself to put my hand up for selection."

for westernbulldogs.com.au