Ryan Hargrave Biography

Ahead of Ryan Hargrave's 200th match, former Bulldog teammate Luke Darcy says it's been an outstanding achievement for him to come this far.

"People underestimate the role he's played. He can play on talls and smalls, he's always been courageous enough to go back with the flight of the ball, he's able to generate a lot of rebound off half-back, and he doesn't get overawed by any opponent or situation," Darcy said.

"He's very consistent effort-wise. With Shaggy you'd think, 'There's a chance he might get beaten today, but it won't be through a lack of effort, concentration, courage or discipline. That's what being a good, reliable teammate is all about."

Western Bulldogs defender Ryan Hargrave will miss at least a month with continuing foot problems.

"We would think he's four to five weeks away before playing," Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said.

"There's just been a bit of pain in the joint, and maybe the plate he had put in there might be touching the joint."

Western Bulldogs defender Ryan Hargrave is one step closer to an AFL return after coming off the club's long term injury list and will make his return with Williamstown.

"It will be good to see him back in action. He's certainly biting at the bit so that's a good one for us," club football operations manager James Fantasia said.

Bulldogs defender Ryan Hargrave has turned to NASA space technology to try to return to fitness after two rounds of surgery on his left foot.

"You put these bike pants on and they have a zip on them, then you step onto the treadmill and then you pull this frame up around you and zip yourself to the frame," he said.

"It seals all the air and blows up and you can adjust how much weight you want to run at. It takes the pounding and pressure out of your foot."

Western Bulldogs defender Ryan Hargrave will return to football through the VFL as he recovers from a potentially career-threatening foot injury.

"He'll need a good eight-week fitness program and we have to make sure he gets a pre-season now," Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said.

"We don't want to fast-track his pre-season so we want him to get eight to nine weeks of good solid fitness work, two to three weeks of footy work and then play."

Ryan Hargrave has signed a three-year contract extension and believes he will remain at the Western Bulldogs for the rest of his career.

"It was a pretty easy decision for me," he said.

"It will probably see me through to the end, and it's great to know I'll stay at the one club for my whole career."

Bulldogs backman Ryan Hargrave believes he has teammate Jarrod Harbrow to thank for his reinvention as a running defender this season.

"Dale Morris and Brian Lake have been playing more of the key position defender roles, which has helped, while Jarrod has definitely contributed to the move as well," Hargrave said.

"He's taking the small defender, which means I'm getting the one in the middle whereas I used to be on a key tall or a key small and I've had to concentrate on them.

"It's left me with more of an attacking role from defence, which has been really good. I've really enjoyed it."

Ryan Hargrave is an older Dog with plenty of tricks and about to play 150 games.

"I never really thought I'd get drafted, so I do pinch myself. 150 games, I'm very proud," Hargrave said.

Western Bulldogs defender Ryan Hargrave believes assistant coach Leon Cameron has what it takes to be a senior coach, but doesn't want to lose him.

"I can absolutely see him coaching, but I wouldn't want to lose him from here," he said.

"Hopefully down the track sometime when Rodney decides to hang his hat up, Leon can slip straight into the Bulldogs role."

Western Bulldog Ryan Hargrave has accepted a $1950 fine for making contact with an umpire.

Western Bulldog Ryan Hargrave has been charged with making negligent contact with umpire Justin Schmitt during the third quarter of the Bulldogs’ clash with Richmond at Docklands and can accept a $1950 fine with an early plea.