The persuasive big man seems to have an uncanny knack of luring some of the biggest names in Ovens and Murray football to the kennel.

Joel Mackie, Mark Hilton, Robbie Murray, Matt McDonald and Josh Walker are just some of the high-profile recruits Styles has been instrumental in signing in recent years.

So when Styles set his sights on Angus McDiarmid, there was a fair chance he would get his man.

It just took longer then expected.

McDiarmid first caught the attention of Styles in 2011 when playing for fierce rival Culcairn as a lanky teenager and one of the rising stars of the competition.

The athletic big man arrived at the kennel this season, not having played for the past three seasons after moving to Geelong for study.

McDiarmid, 23, said it was the sheer persistency of Styles that saw him re-ignite his football career with the Bulldogs this season.

“I last played for Culcairn in 2011 and then gave footy away while I went to university in Geelong for three years,” McDiarmid said.

“Stylesy used to pester me every off-season about playing for Jindera.

“So when he contacted me again this year, I jokingly said ‘line me up a job and I will sign’.

“Next thing I had an interview with a local solicitor and found a job.

“So I had to keep up my end of the bargain and I was out at Jindera running around at training.”

The spring-heeled McDiarmid has slotted into the Bulldogs’ line-up seamlessly as a ruckman as well as strong-marking key forward.

McDiarmid hoped to prove even more damaging in the second half of the season as he regained his touch and match fitness after three years away from the game.

After missing finals last season the Bulldogs have emerged as one of the biggest surprise packets to sit second on the ladder with a 7-2 record.

McDiarmid said while the Bulldogs had laid the foundations to play finals, coach Josh Walker was quick to remind the playing group not to get ahead of themselves.

“We might be second but we could still easily miss out on finals with the competition so even,” he said.

“A couple of weeks ago we got beaten by Rand-Walbundrie, who were 10th at the time.

“Then we came out and beat Murray Magpies, who were top.

“I think whoever makes the finals could win the flag.”