Dalgleish was selected at pick 11 to Essendon in the 2011 AFL Rookie Draft and after breaking through for three senior games in 2013 he was elevated to the club's senior list.

A leg injury restricted Dalgleish at times last season, but the Bombers have persevered with the midfielder given his great ball use.

Watson had plenty of praise for the former Rats' speedster during a visit to Ararat on Tuesday.

"He has had some issues with his body and really throughout last year couldn't get any continuity with training or games, so he was always behind the eight ball," he said.

"This pre-season, especially in the last month, he has really been able to get some consistency with training and I think that is the biggest key, to just stay on top of his injuries and have time out on the ground.

"He has quality AFL attributes, it is just about whether or not he is going to be able to get the time he needs out on the track and in games to be able to put them to good use."

During the summer Dalgleish has been working on various running patterns with the Essendon coaching staff, headed up by the returning James Hird, in the hope of finding more of the ball and making the most of his damaging disposal by foot.

Watson said he sees an opportunity for the 21-year-old to regain a spot back in the senior team because of his speed and ability to kick.

"I was just chatting away with a couple of the locals before about Lauchie and how he was trained as a sprinter," he said.

"It is always nice to have someone come from the town that you are visiting, there is personal connection."

The Bombers' skipper was one of several players that put hundreds of Ararat, Stawell and district school students through their paces during clinics at Alexandra Oval this week.

Joining their captain was Courtenay Dempsey, Ben Howlett, Nick O'Brien, Orazio Fantasia, Kyle Langford and Jake Long.

Watson also got the chance to host an informal fitness session at Alexandra Gardens with members of the public, utilising the recently constructed walking track and exercise equipment.

"Country visits are part of the relationship we have with the AFL...and with the Active Ararat push, I have got the chance to come up and have a look at the new facilities here and have a chat with the local people," Watson said.

"The people in the country don't always have the same opportunity that the ones in the city get to head along and watch training and meet the players, so you always find they are very appreciative of you coming to their area. I think the players also really enjoy coming to country areas and visiting the kids through school clinics."

The 188-game veteran also joined the long list of people to give Alexandra Oval's $3.8 million Community and Recreation Centre the thumbs up.

"The standard of the oval, it is nice and green and in good condition, and also the re-vamping of the local clubrooms I was really impressed by it all," Watson said.

"There has obviously been a lot of time, money and thought go into redeveloping the facilities and it looks like a great community hub and top spot to play and watch footy.

“I know with the NAB Challenge there are games all over regional Australia, we are down in Morwell this year, so there is always an opportunity when the grounds are in such good nick.”

Watson is no stranger to country Victoria, with his father Tim — former Essendon premiership captain and now popular media commentator — born and bred in Dimboola.

“My family grew up in the Wimmera and so I have that local connection too,” Watson said.

“I do still have family further west, I was actually up in Horsham on Saturday for my grandmother’s 80th birthday.

“It had been a while since I’ve been back in the area and now I’ve been twice in the space of a few days. It is a really nice part of the state, I have plenty of fond memories coming up here as a kid.”