WESTERN Bulldogs midfielder Nathan Hrovat believes shorter players still have a big role to play in the modern game despite a recent trend towards taller midfielders.
While Collingwood's Scott Pendlebury and Fremantle's Nat Fyfe ply their trade in the midfield at 191cm and 190cm respectively, Hrovat counters them at just 175cm, but he doesn't see the size difference as a hindrance.
"Height is only a number and it's what you do on the field that counts," Hrovat told AFL.com.au
"You only have to look at some of the elite midfielders in the competition, Brent Harvey (175cm – after a growth spurt) and Sam Mitchell (179cm) are both under 180cm and they do some ridiculous things on the footy field."
The 20-year-old is one of four players under 180cm tall on the Bulldogs' list, along with Luke Dahlhaus, Mitch Honeychurch and draftee Caleb Daniel, the league's shortest player at 167cm.
And he believes all of them have a bright future at Whitten Oval.
"Obviously tall midfielders are slower with great endurance and smaller midfielders are quicker and more agile, unless you're Marcus Bontempelli, who is one out of the box, so I guess it's just playing to your strengths," Hrovat said
"The good thing we have down here is Koby Stevens, Bontempelli, Jake Stringer and Jackson Macrae are taller midfielders, so with that mix, it's going to be really exciting."
And when quizzed on whether having a former rover as the new coach might give the smaller blokes an advantage, Hrovat believes they might have to win over Luke Beveridge in the gym.
"I definitely don't say anything to Luke about his height, but geez he's got some big pipes (arms), he must do some bicep curls behind closed doors." Hrovat said laughing
What will definitely impress Beveridge about the 2014 NAB AFL Rising Star nominee is his decision making and kicking skills, two important areas of the game the Bulldogs have struggled with in recent seasons.
"Having a brief chat with 'Bevo' hopefully I'll get a bit more midfield time this year, so and I can give 'Libba' (Tom Liberatore) and those sorts a chop out," he said
"With Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney and Shaun Higgins leaving it really opens up a few spots and some great opportunities."
And after playing just 19 senior games in his first two seasons at the Dogs, the renowned diligent worker has given himself the best chance of seizing the moment.
"My pre-season has been really good, I've dropped a bit of weight and I'm running a lot better, " he said
"The last couple of years I've missed big parts of both my pre seasons with injury, so this year I've been a bit tentative, managed my loads and will hopefully be ready to go round one."
