THE WESTERN Bulldogs will consider offering young Gaelic footballer Aiden O'Shea a rookie contract at the end of the 2010 season.

The 19-year-old from County Mayo is currently in Australia and has been training at Whitten Oval for nine days.

An infected foot kept the youngster from doing much this week but he had already had the opportunity to showcase his impressive agility and developing skills during his stay.

Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said the two-week visit gave O'Shea the opportunity to gain an understanding of what a career in AFL would be like.

"It's a good assimilation for him to see what's required to play the game as far as the commitment and the fitness levels and skill level," he told afl.com.au.

"He lived with Will Minson for the two weeks and they got along well.

"We'll give him a program, fitness wise and skills wise, and send a ball back with him and then monitor that."

O'Shea was spotted by Eade's manager Ricky Nixon, who currently heads up a talent identification program in Ireland.

Eade said it was O'Shea's maturity as a player that caught Nixon's eye.

"He played in the County competition as an 18-year-old, which is unusual for them," he said. "He's a bit more of a power forward than a running-type player. He's got good agility and he's a good competitor and he's got good hands.

"He's starting from a long way back and he's got a lot to learn, like most of them, but his kicking has got better since he's been here.

"I remember Tadhg Kennelly when he first started in Sydney and he couldn't kick the ball 30m and then he ended up being one of the better kicks in the competition. They pick up that kicking aspect pretty quickly."

O'Shea will return to Ireland this weekend with his newly devised program, before he moves to Dublin to start studying at university in 2010.

Eade says the Bulldogs will monitor the potential star through Nixon and his Ireland-based team.

They will also endeavour to send a member of the coaching staff to the country next year to check on his progress before inviting him to return to Whitten Oval next year.