Ryan Gardner will make his AFL debut for the Western Bulldogs on Sunday, against the West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium.
It’s been a whirlwind first 24-hours as an AFL draftee for the 21-year-old, 197-centimetre key position player, who was recruited by the Bulldogs with pick six in the 2019 NAB AFL Mid-Season Draft.
After selecting Gardner on Monday night, Dogs’ General Manager of List and recruiting, Sam Power, said the new recruit was ‘physically ready’.
Senior coach Luke Beveridge waited no longer than Gardner’s first official AFL team meeting on Tuesday afternoon to break the news to the players that he would immediately make his debut.
WATCH: RYAN GARDNER REACTS TO BEING DRAFTED TO THE BULLDOGS
He will receive his opportunity in a tough first-up challenge, against the reigning premiers on their home turf this Sunday.
Gardner had spent the first half of 2019 on Footscray’s VFL list, spending time at both ends of the ground and pinch-hitting in the ruck.
Prior to joining the Bulldogs, he spent three years at Geelong (2016-2018) without making an AFL appearance.
The Bulldogs will name a 26-player squad for the trip to Perth on Thursday night, which will be reduced to a 22-player team on Friday.
