Kolora-Noorat's Joel Dillon is thriving in his lockdown role

Dillon has played on the likes of Warrnambool and District league stars Dan Nicholson (Russells Creek), Jyron Neave (Merrivale) and Ben Threlfall (Nirranda).

He featured in the Power's best players for each of those encounters.

"It's always good playing against some of the best forwards, it gives you something to base your game off. And if you're limiting them, you're doing your job," he said.

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Walsh said Dillon had become an important player for the senior team this season.

"He's turned into a really reliable and consistent player and we try and identify the most dangerous medium or small forward from the opposition and most weeks he'll get that job," he said.

"He's played on some really good players and some different players through the year and he's just getting better every week."

The 21-year-old is loving being part of the Power's back six.

"I'm really enjoying it. There's a couple of young boys like Lukey J (Luke Justin) filters down there and Ben O'Sullivan, he's pretty consistent down there. And then the older heads like Richo (Jake Richardson) and Steve O'Connor - you can't go wrong with them, they're reliable," he said.

Dillon, who played some senior matches in 2019, missed out on the playing in the top-grade premiership.

"I started off in the seniors in 2019, played about the first five games and then went back to twos to get a bit of form up and then filtered in and out but just never really cemented my spot," he said.

But his form this year has seen him play all 11 senior games.

"Walshy has given me the role of a lockdown player. So he's giving me someone to play on and it's helped my game and cement my spot, hopefully," he said.

"Having someone to play on has helped a lot."

He's excited about where the Power is headed.

"Off the back of the 2019 (premiership) season, me missing out myself, that sort of drives you and all the boys that won the flag are just as keen to go again, so it's a great feeling," he said.

Dillon, who works at a dairy farm at Kolora, moved to Terang from Werribee in 2011 and started in the Power's under 12s.

"I had a cousin (Josh Dillon) playing and he was coaching the twos at the time. So I came down to training and never looked back," he said.

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