Michael Barlow isn’t surprised to see good friend and former Freo midfielder Nick Lower excelling as a tagger at his new club the Western Bulldogs.

Lower joined the Dogs at the end of last season after two years at Freo. Before that, he was at Port Adelaide.

Dogs’ coach Brendan McCartney has given the South Australian the job as the side’s tagger – a role he has performed brilliantly in the pre-season and in round 1, where he eclipsed Brisbane’s NAB Cup star Daniel Rich.

Barlow, who used to be Lower’s housemate, said his friend’s adaptability and dedication made it easy for him to take on the new role.

“At Port he played as a small defender, then he came to Freo and played as an efficient midfielder and half forward,” Barlow said.

“He gets the best out of himself, whatever environment he’s in.

“He’s very hardnosed and dedicated to what he’s doing and to see him as a tagger didn’t surprise me that much.”

After delisting him at the end of 2012, Fremantle offered Lower the opportunity to remain at the club and train in the hope of being picked up in the Rookie Draft.

But Lower had already been down that path before and he chose to join a young Bulldogs’ list crying out for some hardness and experience.

Barlow admitted he personally wanted Lower to stay in WA because of the friendship they’d struck up.

But he understood Lower’s decision to leave.

“You would go to the end of the world to chase your dream, and he’s doing that at the Bulldogs,” Barlow said.

“I’m just really stoked to see him play so well through the pre-season and get his chance and be one of their better players.”

Barlow doesn’t expect Lower to go to him on Saturday when the two sides clash at Etihad Stadium.

But regardless of who Lower played on, the Freo ball-magnet said it would be a strange feeling to line up against his former comrade.

That wouldn’t change how he and his Freo teammates approached the game, however.

“When the siren goes and the ball is bounced, he’s just another player wearing a Bulldogs jumper,” Barlow said.

“I will, along with the rest of our midfielders, be going out of my way to make it a very difficult day for him and the rest of their midfield.”


2013 STARLIGHT PURPLE HAZE GAME: Friday 12 April v Essendon at Patersons Stadium, 6.40pm bounce down. Dress in purple to WIN! Proudly supported by Fremantle Ports. Click here for more information.