SOME NAB AFL Rising Star nominees can disappear quicker than they arrived. A brilliant cameo can earn a nomination before the youngster fades away just weeks later.
But for Bulldog Callan Ward, his nomination has been the result of a consistent season rather than one or two flashy games.
That is not to undersell Ward’s impressive performance against Fremantle on the weekend, as with 22 disposals and two goals he was one of the Dogs’ best in the win.
It just happened to be the latest of a series of consistent performances for the young Bulldog who still says the nomination is not overdue.
“There are quite a lot of good players out there so I’m not surprised at all," Ward said.
"I guess I knew that if I kept playing consistently, which I think I have been over the last eight or 10 weeks the chance would come and it has.”
Ward played six games last year as he juggled football with Year 12 VCE commitments.
He was tipped by many to be a candidate for this year’s award and he admits his football has improved without having to also focus on schooling.
“Getting the full pre-season at the start of the year has helped with fitness," Ward said. "Last year I didn’t do the whole pre-season and I feel more confident now in running out games.
“This year I’ve had a lot more time to work on my own game, to man up on other guys and talk to the coaches about how to improve my game.”
One of the men working closely with the 19-year-old is Bulldogs midfield coach Leon Cameron.
Cameron has been named as a potential senior coach in waiting and Ward can’t speak highly enough of his football knowledge.
“I have a review with him [Cameron] every Monday or Tuesday after the game and I go through the edits," Ward said. "He helps me out a fair bit with how I can improve on my game.
“He has been a fantastic assistant coach at the Western Bulldogs. I’d love to keep him as an assistant here but if he wants to move on and take the opportunity to be a senior coach I’m sure he would be a fantastic senior coach.
"He is pretty well respected around the club so he has been fantastic to me especially and to everyone.”
Ward has played 15 of 18 games this season but he is unlikely to be complacent about his spot in the side any time soon.
“I’ve played nine or 10 games in a row now so I do feel a bit more settled but there is always pressure from down below at VFL level,” he said.
“I know there are probably five or six players in the VFL now who could easily take my spot. The competition is probably a good thing and puts pressure on us.”
Ward grew up in Williamstown in the heart of Bulldogs territory but he is only a recent convert to the red, white and blue, having barracked for Essendon right up until he was drafted with pick 19 in the 2007 draft.
“When you walk in to the club after you get drafted you turn into a Western Bulldog supporter straight away and you don’t think about Essendon as much,” he said.
“I guess it was pretty easy for me because I grew up in the Western Bulldogs area so it wasn’t too hard.”
