Rhylee West didn’t spend a fortnight in his off-season sprinting up and down the University of San Diego’s Torero Stadium stairs for fun.
The rugged Western Bulldog is nowhere near satisfied yet. After 11 games combined across his first three seasons, the son of club great Scott West added 14 more this year as he finally carved out a niche as a forward.
It wasn’t the role West imagined when he was the No.26 draft pick in 2018, but finding a way to consistently play in Luke Beveridge’s senior side was pleasing after a challenging start to his career.
Rhylee West enjoyed a breakout AFL season in 2022.Credit:AFL Photos
His ability to impact the scoreboard and terrorise defenders with his tackling meant Beveridge kept picking him, at least until the Dogs’ last two games of the year, including their elimination final.
That disappointment left West even more motivated, while his midfield ambition continues to burn after he starred as an on-baller in his junior days.
There are few, if any, midfield groups in the competition as talented or deep as Beveridge’s Bulldogs boast, headlined by Marcus Bontempelli, Bailey Smith, Jack Macrae and Tom Liberatore.
But there is suddenly a sliver of hope for West after club champion Josh Dunkley’s defection to the Brisbane Lions.
That is why he didn’t think twice when superstar captain Bontempelli invited West to train with him in San Diego this past off-season, alongside Aaron Naughton, Caleb Daniel and Hayden Crozier.
“Everyone’s looking for an edge, and I thought it was a great opportunity to go with him and spend a couple of weeks there,” West told The Age.
“It was his domain – he’s done it before – but I jumped at it and thought maybe this could be something that puts me above others, so hopefully it does, but I’ve got to keep working hard.
“It was a two-week span where you know it’s going to be hard, so you give your all for two weeks and that’s how you make the most of it. It’s good to get out of your comfort zone.
“You wouldn’t do it for longer than that – I don’t think anyone’s body would hold up for longer – but we were lifting heavy and running fast.”
Coincidentally or not, Dunkley accompanied Bontempelli on previous San Diego trips.
The opportunity stems from Bontempelli’s relationship with Matt Kritz, a high-performance specialist who is the university’s senior associate director for athletic performance.
During one particularly punishing session amid the torturous fortnight, the five Bulldogs spent an hour alternating chin-ups, push-ups and weights with scaling the 6000-seat stadium’s steps.
The ‘recovery’, if it can be called that, was while they completed the upper-body exercises.
“We all ended up hunched over. Getting through that together put a lot of belief in each other,” West said.
“We’ve had a bit of change around the footy club at the end of this year, so hopefully this builds closer relationships and we can have a stable group that brings everyone together and helps team chemistry.”
What Dunkley’s departure might mean for West is not lost on him, but he is equally aware there are no guarantees.
The 22-year-old feels like he has plenty to prove, and much more to give, at the highest level, whether he is playing as a forward or midfielder – and that is what is driving him to get better.
“There might be a spot opening up, but I’m not sure how we’re rolling at the minute with our midfield structure,” West said.
Rhylee West.Credit:Getty Images
“As much as I thought I made some strides in playing forward through the 2022 season, I would love to play in the midfield and get back to what I was doing in juniors.
“That’s definitely something I want to push for in 2023, but wherever they need me on the field, I’m happy to play.”
West’s willingness to push the limits in San Diego came despite him dealing with left knee soreness that will keep him on limited duties until the Christmas break as a precaution.
But he is primed to ramp up his activity again in the new year as the Bulldogs plot another deep September campaign after a disappointing fade-out cost them in their finals defeat to Fremantle in 2022.
“We have some new faces – players, coaches and staff – but there’s real belief in us as a group, as players,” West said.
“We want to start afresh, so we won’t look back at what happened the last couple of years – we’re looking forward now to 2023.”
