Michael Talia has earned the Western Bulldogs their second AFL Rising Star nomination this season after a solid performance in Saturday’s round 15 win over Greater Western Sydney.

The tall defender topped the Bulldogs’ possession count with 32 touches at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.

It was the 20-year-old’s fifth AFL game this season and ninth in his career, having spent most of 2012 with the Bulldogs’ VFL affiliate Williamstown.

Coach Brendan McCartney says he is pleased with Talia’s development but said there is room for improvement.

“He showed some good signs towards the end of last season with his appetite to compete and great capacity to run, and has continued that this year,” McCartney said.

“There are still some things to work on in his game, but we are optimistic about where he is heading as a player.”

Talia is the younger brother of Adelaide’s Daniel Talia, who won the 2012 AFL Rising Star, and grandson of 1953 Bulldogs premiership ruckman Harvey Stevens.

Jackson Macrae won the Bulldogs’ first nomination in round eight.