"It's definitely a club I want to stick around with," he said. "From the playing group to the supporters and everything, I always feel comfortable there.

"The coaching staff too - I think when I started with the Rats we were a bottom side and each year since then it's been growing. I think the coaches have a lot to do with that. They always trust your game, and if you're not having your best form or whatever they'll support you.

"I think we have a really good supporter base too so that always helps. The volunteer base is huge too. It's awesome.

"I've made really good mates there too so that always influences you to stick around."

Arnott is playing his fourth season with the seniors.

"I play in the back line mostly," he said. "I think we're on the right track (this season). We had a pretty successful season last year so now, sitting second I think we're tracking pretty well."

Arnott's football career has been pretty smooth sailing, except for one injury in his junior years that forced him out for almost a year.

"I cracked my scaphoid (wrist bone) and they put it in a cast but told me to just keep working on it," he said. "But it just deteriorated and I had to do it all again."

It was a fourth quarter injury that Arnott didn't clock onto immediately.

"I tried to punch it (the football)," he said. "I just heard a crack and that was it. It was rough but it was in the last quarter. I didn't think anything of it but it blew up after that."

Arnott lives in Geelong, where he is in his final year studying construction management.

"I want to work on commercial projects I think," he said. "Maybe a project manager or something like that, and hopefully get a job around Geelong soon-ish, or an internship and start from there."

Like several other players, Arnott makes the commute from Geelong to play.

"My family lives in Ararat so it's not just for footy," he said. "We've got three boys on the team from Geelong, so that makes it easier and we can train down here and do a few sessions."

This weekend the club will host Stawell Warriors for round 16.

"It's a big one," Arnott said. "They've been looking good in the past few weeks, so it will definitely be a challenge but I'm looking forward to it.

"They're a hard side. They run the ball well off the half back so we'll have to try and sort of stop that I suppose. They've got a few classy forwards too, so we'll have a handful. I think we match up well alright against them but we'll see how we go."

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