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Hrovat gathered 27 disposals against the Gold Coast Suns. Source: Getty Images
”WESTERN Bulldog recruiters received another major tick, with Nathan Hrovat generating the club’s seventh Rising Star nomination in four years.
Excluding the expansion sides, rivals believe the Dogs have assembled a scoop of under-23 talent unmatched in the land while No. 4 pick Marcus Bontempelli was yesterday backed into clear favouritism for this year’s top award.
Dogs chief recruiter Simon Dalrymple has punched out seven top-40 selections in the past four drafts with five earning Rising Star nominations and in-form forward Jake Stringer a chance to boost that number to six this season.
That batch excludes All-Australian hopeful Tom Liberatore (pick 41) and Hrovat said the next wave of Dogs was enjoying developing together.
“We’re a very tight-knit young group of guys,” he said.
“Jack (Macrae) had a phenomenal game against Gold Coast with 43 possessions and he’s probably showed all year what he’s capable of.
“To watch Libba last year set himself up and Mitch Wallis has been playing really good footy, so it’s very exciting to see us young group of boys having the confidence to take the game on and show what they’re made of.”
Coach Brendan McCartney’s graph of the rebuilding Dogs has taken a sharp ascent since the shock loss to Brisbane Lions with upset wins against Collingwood, the Suns and a thrilling victory against Melbourne.
Hrovat kicked the sealer against Gold Coast in Cairns to cap a breakout 27-disposal performance in his 14th AFL match.
He is rated as a potential future Bulldogs captain and is already tied to Whitten Oval until the end of 2016.
On Bontempelli, who was yesterday crunched into $2.30 to become the Dogs first Rising Star winner and followed Hrovat to the Dogs from Northern Knights, the 175cm forward said: “I think he’s a ripping chance”.
“He’s very well respected and liked by the group and he’s worked hard and I think that’s all you can ask of a first-year player.
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