It’s been a really exciting start to the season - both from a team and personal perspective.

To be sitting 4-0 is a great start, particularly considering we have played against some quality opponents in the opening month.

Last week’s win against the Western Bulldogs provided the side with a huge confidence boost given they are widely touted as one of the genuine premiership contenders this year.

On a personal note, I’ve been really happy to get some valuable game time in the seniors after missing a fair bit of footy during my first three seasons at the Club.

Last year was tough considering I only played three matches and was forced to watch from the stands as Mitch Clark shouldered most of the team’s ruck load by himself.

Fortunately for the team, he really stood up and had an amazing year. It’s no surprise he finished in the top three of the Club Champion award and in my mind he probably should’ve been the All-Australian ruckman as well.

I kind of experienced what it’s like being the team’s sole ruckman last week against the Bulldogs with Jamie Charman still out with an ankle injury and Mitch serving a one week suspension.

Mind you, I did receive a fair bit of help at times from guys like Jared Brennan and Matt Maguire who picked up the slack when I needed a break.

But I really enjoyed that responsibility and am pleased to be getting more continuity back in my game after playing more minutes.

One ruckman who really seems to have taken the football world by storm at the moment is West Coast’s Nic Naitanui.

Even though we’re both from Western Australia, I never had the opportunity to play with or against him as a junior because I’m obviously a couple of years older.

But I have played on him since and it’s fair to say he’ll be a star of the future. He is really athletic and physical and was a worthy recipient of last week’s Rising Star nomination. He’s an exciting player that I’m sure will be doing great things with the Eagles over a long period of time.

While he’s understandably the favourite for the Rising Star award at the moment, I reckon we have a few young guys at the Club who probably aren’t far off receiving a nomination themselves.

Todd Banfield has kicked six goals in four games this season and helped create plenty of others as a small forward, while Tom Rockliff and Jack Redden are also going really well at the moment.

It’s a good sign for the Club that there are good young players coming through the ranks and putting pressure on the more senior blokes for a spot in the side.