KIDDING AROUND: Geelong and North Melbourne premiership player Cam Mooney leads a clinic with grade four students at Horsham Primary School's 298 campus yesterday. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
WESTERN Bulldogs specialist coach and triple-premiership forward Cam Mooney predicts former Dimboola footballer Brett Goodes will have an instant impact at AFL level.
Mooney, who was in the Wimmera yesterday to host a football clinic at Horsham Primary School's 298 campus, said he 'had no question' that the mature-aged rookie would make his senior debut for the Bulldogs in round one, describing him as a ready-made player.
"He will play AFL football this year, there's no doubt about it," he said.
"The coaching staff are really impressed with him, he's got a hard body, he's experienced and he's got a beautiful left-foot kick.
"Whether he will be able to handle 10, 12 or 15 games, we'll soon find out."
Other players that have impressed the former Cat during the pre-season include father-son pick-up Mitch Wallis, who he touted as a future captain of the club.
"He reminds me a lot of Joel Selwood," Mooney said.
"He's young, he's got captain material all over him and his professionalism is just outstanding."
Forward duo Liam Jones and Ayce Cordy, who Mooney has been working with closely, have also been training the house down in a bid to take their game to a new level in 2013.
"I love working with both of those guys, I see them as 10-year players for the footy club," he said.
"I think Liam copped a really unfair whack last year.
"He was still just a kid and was basically the number one forward.
"He was getting the best defender every week, and no 21-year-old should get that.
"But his power, his strength and his quickness is unbelievable."
Mooney, 33, played 221 games for North Melbourne and Geelong since making his AFL debut in 1999.
He hung up the boots at the end of 2011 after playing in his third premiership.