A command performance from Ayce Cordy will serve as a confidence boost for the young tall, kicking five goals in the Footscray Bulldogs 117 point win over Richmond in the VFL.

Using his height and improved fitness to out-work his opponents, Cordy provided a strong marking target in Footscray’s forward line and was instrumental in the side’s inaugural win.

“On the weekend he showed he is a real dominant force up there being over 200cm [and was] hard to stop,” Development Coach Ashley Hansen said.

“[He] won front position on many occasions and when he gets in that dominant position as a forward, he can use his athletic ability and his reach to mark the ball or draw a free kick from his opponent.”

An uninterrupted pre-season has aided Cordy’s development, with the tall forward increasingly showing the versatility in his game that saw him highly rated as a junior.

“Ayce has got this fantastic athletic ability that he’s got height but he’s also really mobile,” he said.

“It’s a credit to himself that over summer he went away and he got his tank really big… it’s given him the base to come on and just keep developing each week on his craft and build on his game.

“I think that continuity from week to week has really helped him start to string together some really impressive performances.

“I think he is starting to get the evolution of competing in the air but also when the ball hits the ground, he’s contributing there too.”