JASON Johannisen plays for one of the competition's most exhilarating teams, with his scintillating runs, exquisite foot skills and bold risk-taking epitomising how the Western Bulldogs play the game.

Luke Beveridge believes the running defender's self-belief is "off the charts", while his skills have "gone through the roof".

His backline coach Rohan Smith joined the chorus, declaring the 23-year-old reminded him of Adelaide great Andrew McLeod.

But ahead of his 50th game against Hawthorn on Sunday, Johannisen's demeanour is in stark contrast to the hype surrounding him after his blistering start to the season.

"I don’t read too much into it. I'm a low-key, relaxed type of guy," Johannisen told AFL.com.au.

"I'm not really worried about my 50th; I'm looking forward to playing against the best because Hawthorn has been the benchmark for the past five years."

While he says the right team-themed things, the West Australian also acknowledges his increasing importance to a side that many believe can challenge for the flag.

Two eye-catching performances to open the season might have earned Johannisen maximum Brownlow Medal votes in the Dogs' emphatic wins over Fremantle and St Kilda.

"I feel very comfortable out on the field, and it's taken a bit of time to do so, but I now have the confidence and belief to play in this team," he said.

"Sometimes I can go into my shell, but I try and scrub that out of my game, be aggressive and take the game on."

Simon Dalrymple played a major role in bringing the South African-born speedster to Whitten Oval, and the Bulldogs' recruiting boss has patiently watched the man he selected with pick 39 in the 2011 NAB AFL rookie draft.

The respected talent spotter admits he's been pleasantly surprised by the meteoric rise of a player blessed with "speed, a beautiful stride and a bubbly personality".

"He's taken a while to get there, but for a boy from Western Australia to come to all the way from Melbourne and survive a in full-time ruthless environment is a big effort," Dalrymple told AFL.com.au.

"You're always optimistic in terms of what the player can become, but what has been great is that he's really playing to his strengths under Bevo.

"The desire to want the ball in his hands, take off and run and carry is what we saw in him.

"But his level of his form this season has surprised us a little bit."

While he says his role as an AFL Multicultural Ambassador is an "extremely rewarding" break from the day to day life of being an AFL footballer, Johannisen points to a close friendship with a teammate for helping him settle in Melbourne.

"I spend a lot of time with Jake Stringer, especially over the past couple of years," Johannisen said.

"I'm always at Jakey's house so I can chill out, play with his little daughter Milla and have some fun.

"And especially with my family in Perth, to have a great bunch of teammates to hang around makes them feel like family and they're a real support.

"I feel like I can talk to them about anything."

And it's that camaraderie at Whitten Oval that gives Johannisen great hope that ultimate glory is not too far away.

"We're so tight and we've worked so hard over the past 18 months to get into the position we are," he said.

"It was pretty fresh last year under Bevo, but we've had another year to reinforce our system, and the benefits are showing.

"We believe if we play our best footy for four quarters we take on anyone."