When playing backyard footy growing up, Michael Talia dreamt of playing for the Western Bulldogs like Brad Johnson – and admired the defensive prowess of Geelong’s Matthew Scarlett.

Years later, Talia’s dream of playing in the red, white and blue became reality – and in a twist of fate, the 19-year-old has had the rare opportunity to be coached by his two childhood heroes.

Both Johnson and Scarlett have joined the Bulldogs coaching panel over the pre-season, and it hasn’t taken long for their impact to be felt by the defender.

“My two idols growing up were Matthew Scarlett and Brad Johnson and now we’ve got the two of them as coaches,” Talia said.

“It’s really surreal seeing them out there coaching us, especially because I have a lot to do with Matty Scarlett because I am in the defensive group.

“Just his knowledge of the game and his defensive knowledge is quite incredible, so I am learning a lot of him and hopefully it shows this year.”

If that lineup hadn’t impressed the lifelong Bulldogs supporter enough, his new defensive line assistant coach is also an ex-Club great in Rohan Smith – who moved into the new role after fulfilling the position of development coach in Talia’s debut season.

“[Smith’s] always bubbly and up and about, he’s a really good coach and he knows of his stuff and he’s taught me a lot as well,” he said.

“Stuff like holding your man out when a third man comes in, left and right hand spoils, body spoils – it’s just technical craft that you wouldn’t do in the TAC Cup.

“It’s definitely helped me… they’ve taught me a lot of things to do to negate my opponent from running to places and I have tried to implement them in my game and hopefully makes me a better player.”

Playing four senior games in his first year on the list, Talia has already won bragging rights in one family rivalry, with his brother Daniel (Adelaide Crows) not making his debut until his second year.

Talia has big shoes to fill if he wants to keep the friendly competition going, after Daniel won the Rising Star Award in his third year as a key defender in 2012.

“Obviously Daniel winning the Rising Star last year has put me in the spotlight a bit but I am my own person and hopefully once I get in, I make a name for myself,” he said.

“I definitely feel I have the ability to do so.

“We are different players… I probably take a few more marks and get a little bit more of the ball… and a little bit more run out of the back line – so I am working more on my defensive side.”

The young Bulldog jokingly nominated himself as the better player of the two when they were growing up, but said Daniel’s achievements are a real inspiration to him.

“Daniel didn’t play his first game until the last nine rounds of his second year, and then he has gone on to win the Rising Star in his third year,” he said.

“It has given me a lot of confidence, especially growing up training with him since I was pretty much 14-years-old.”

Talia also credits a number of players at the kennel for his development and growth, both on and off the field in the past 18 months.

“Coming into a football club with good guys and people around me such as Dale Morris, Matthew Boyd and guys like Jordan Roughead, just good role models – I’ve definitely matured a lot since I left high school,” he said.

Looking to the year ahead, Talia is hopeful he can add to his four game career tally - but in the immediate future his main focus is just playing his role in the team and striving to be the best player he can become.

“I’m hopefully pushing my way up for selection and I really want to work hard on the things that the coaches have told me to work hard on,” he said.

“The good thing about Brendan McCartney is, if you play your role and you play solid footy, you don’t have to do anything flashy or try to stand out.

“If you stick to what the coaches told you to do, there will be opportunity there.”