WESTERN Bulldogs young gun Jarrad Grant has some advice for the 75 aspiring footballers who joined AFL lists on Saturday – don't underestimate the powers of recovery.

Grant, 19, went to Whitten Oval as a highly-rated forward prospect in the 2007 NAB AFL Draft; he was held in such regard that the Dogs selected him at No. 5 overall.

But what was meant to be an exciting debut season for the former Dandenong Stingray was ruined in late May when he was cut down by the early onset of the footballer's curse – osteitis pubis.

"Coming from a TAC Cup club where you've got two or three training sessions a week, for one hour, to coming out here and running around every day … it's hard," Grant told westernbulldogs.com.au.

"There's lots of work, lots of leg weights, and the body just gets fatigued.

"I didn't flog myself, but you need to get all the rehab stuff right.

"Ice baths and stretching, it all pays dividends in the end and it gets you up and refreshed, ready for the next day.

"You have to make sure you do the rehabilitation stuff after the big sessions."

Grant didn't play again after representing Williamstown on May 24, and was restricted from running until the Bulldogs entered the finals in September.

The biggest lesson he learned from the enforced lay-off was how best to manage his body, and how important the little aspects of recovery can be.

"For me, coming back, the biggest lesson has been about being professional," he said.

"Some of the other guys might not be doing the extra stuff but, if it's working for you, then continue to do it.

"It's getting me through at the moment."

Grant admits it will be "weird" when the Dogs return from their current training camp in Arizona and are greeted with the club's latest draftees, Jordan Roughead and Liam Jones.

He said the arrival of the new pups, including father-son acquisition Ayce Cordy – who has travelled to the United States with the group – emphasises how time has flown since he landed at the Dogs as one of six draftees 12 months ago.

"It shows you that you need to make the most of it because a year has gone already," he said.

"The new boys should just enjoy it, and get down to your club and get stuck into the hard work.

"Good, hard, sensible work will get you the rewards."