Western Bulldogs dasher Jason Johannisen has heaped praise on one of his youngest teammates, claiming recent top-10 recruit Ryley Sanders looked poised to play plenty of football in his debut season.
Brought to Barkly Street with Pick 6 of the 2023 AFL Draft, Sanders, a Sandringham Dragons product by way of North Launceston, turned heads at underage level, averaging 35 disposals at 80 per cent efficiency to win the Larke Medal last season.
While undoutbtedly an engine room cog for the future, Sanders has turned heads during his short time at the Kennel, with Johannisen stating the teenager had already drawn comparisons to a pair of contemporary greats.
"There's been a lot of hype around Ryley Sanders, but it's very merited because the way he has been training is unbelievable," the 2016 North Smith medallist told RSN.
"Personally, he sort of reminds me of a young 'Libba' (Tom Liberatore). He's so clean in the stoppages, but then he also has the time and poise of (Scott) Pendlebury.
"He's been extremely exciting to watch, so Dogs fans will be really keen to watch him this season."
When quizzed as to whether Sanders looked in line for an early debut, Johannisen didn't waver, claiming if the Tasmanian wunderkind could withstand the rigours of his first pre-season, he loomed as a likely starter.
"I would think so," Johannisen added. "If his body holds up and he stays healthy, I'd assume he'd play a lot of games this year."
Sanders looms as a bittersweet beneficiary of Bailey Smith's ACL rupture over the summer, with Bulldogs head coach now needing to find inside muscle and outside dash for the season ahead.
The Bulldogs will start their 2024 campaign in earnest when they make the trip to the MCG to face Melbourne on Sunday, March 17.
