EXCITING draftee Aaron Naughton is looking forward to renewing acquaintances with several former teammates when the Western Bulldogs play Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.
Naughton has been a revelation since making his debut in the opening round of the season, going a long way to justifying why the club pounced on the intercepting key defender with pick nine in last year's NAB AFL Draft.
He came to the Dogs' recruiters' attention after an eye-catching draft year with the Dockers' WAFL affiliate Peel Thunder, where he impressed in seven senior games with marking and ability to match it physically with more seasoned opponents.
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Standing friend turned foe Matt Taberner looms as a likely assignment for the 18-year-old against the Dockers, with the forward and Naughton teammates at Peel last year.
"It will be my first experience of playing against players I do have a connection with," Naughton told Sport 91.3 radio this week.
"Playing with Peel last year, it will be good to go up against Taberner and the (other former teammates) I played alongside for my seven League games last year.
"It will definitely be good and I can't wait to get out there."
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has not eased the AFL's fourth-youngest player into his debut season, with Naughton already handed the responsibility of standing gun forwards Jeremy Cameron, Jack Darling and Joe Daniher in his first three games.
But the biggest task came against Sydney last Saturday, when he spent time trying to curtail fellow West Australian and superstar Lance Franklin.
The weight of expectation has not inhibited the teenager as he has continued to play with his trademark attacking flair, hauling in 10 intercept and four contested marks this season.
"So far to date it's been unreal, and I'm just blessed that Luke Beveridge and the coaching staff have backed me in early days at the club to try and lock myself in as a key defender from round one," Naughton said.
"I've grown up watching players like 'Buddy' dominate the competition and then be playing against him and trying to stop him was definitely a learning experience.
"You've got to be in awe of him and it was great to rub shoulders with him."
Settling quickly into Melbourne has aided Victorian-born Naughton's ability to hit the ground running at Whitten Oval and he credits a couple of hospitable teammates for the seamless transition.
"In that first period pre-Christmas after the draft, I lived with Mitch Wallis and he showed me what life is like as an AFL footballer, and then you can't go past Easton Wood as the captain and a fellow defender," Naughton said.
"(Easton) has shown me the tricks of the trade in defence."
