Matt Fuller had to look twice when he saw his name at selection 42 to the Western Bulldogs in last weeks’s AFL draft, so surreal was the experience for the 23-year-old.

"I had a good year this year and I was surprised [the Bulldogs] got into contact with me and picked me up. I was very lucky,” Fuller said.

"There was a bit of shock there. Mum and dad sort of jumped up and around. We were just at the local pub. I had to look up at the screen and look back again just to make sure my name was actually there.

"There was about eight other clubs that had a chat with me, but yeah, the Bulldogs were definitely the most interested."

Senior Coach Brendan McCartney says Fuller will be a good addition to the current group of defenders at the Kennel.

"He's an excellent kick. He's got a bit to learn about playing as that close-checking backman, but that's what we're here to do.

"He does use the ball exceptionally well. He's a bit different to what we've got and our recruiters identified him at pick 42 as the player we needed."