ASK ANY rusted-on footy fan what their first memory of Hayden Crozier was and the answer will probably be the same.

The incredible mark against Western Australia in the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships all those years ago still strikes a chord, and even the eye-catching Bulldog agrees that it was his greatest grab.

"It’s a bit of a running joke, the boys reckon that’s the only way I got drafted," Crozier told AFL.com.au.

That mark was one of the best seen in the last decade and Crozier’s even added a few more speccys to his highlight reel this year, but he wouldn’t put himself in the top three high flyers in the League.

"Jeremy Howe is the clear number one. He’s been consistent for a long time," he said.

"Liam Ryan is up there as well. The big hanger against Melbourne and the one running back with the flight.

"I’d give my man 'Naughty' (Aaron Naughton) number three. He’s taken some big pack grabs and takes the occasional hanger so I’ll give him some love."

Not everyone has a licence to fly, but the complete freedom from coach Luke Beveridge allows Crozier to play at his creative best, flying for marks whenever he sees appropriate.

Mark it if you can, spoil it over the line if need be, but above all, Beveridge says there must be no 'soft drops' to keep crumbing forwards in the game.

"So many teams have dangerous small forwards. Especially this weekend (against Essendon), (Anthony) McDonald-Tipungwuti, (Orazio) Fantasia and Jake Stringer is pretty handy, too," Crozier said.

A win for the Bulldogs would keep them in the finals race, and with the way the team is playing, knocking off the seventh-placed Bombers is not out of the question.

Essendon has made six changes, with key forward Shaun McKernan one of the inclusions.

Veteran Dale Morris might have got the job on the behemoth Bomber, but uncertainty clouds the 38-year-old’s future as he battles another ACL injury.

Find AFL Exchange on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.

Crozier’s respect for the 2016 premiership hero started even before crossing from Fremantle.

"I asked Matty Pavlich who his hardest opponent was and he always said Dale Morris," Crozier said.

"He’s been one of the great full-backs of our generation." - Hayden Crozier

The Dogs will have to make do without Morris, and Crozier might even have to play as a third tall at times, but that doesn’t bother him.

"I like challenging myself against the best," he said.

For the first time in his career, the dashing defender is on track to play every game. There were doubts heading into round 21 as he battled an ankle injury sustained after he took a massive mark against the Lions.

"It was just a case of getting it right. There was a lot of swelling and some bruising," Crozier said.

"I went from crutches to a moon boot and then progressed to some running."

Crozier completed about half of the main training session on Thursday, but insists he’s right to go as the Dogs take on Essendon on Saturday night at Marvel Stadium.