This time next year, Maher expects to be studying nursing and clinical practice (paramedic) at Charles Sturt University at Bathurst.

He finished high school in 2019 but decided to have a gap year.

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Maher wanted to get "more life experience", and save money, before going to uni - and has done that by bartending and stacking shelves at Woolworths.

He has also received Responsible Service of Alcohol and Responsible Conduct of Gambling certificates. "Obviously it's been difficult with the COVID-19 situation," he said, "but I've been trying to work around that to get some more opportunities."

Maher is in his third season at the Bulldogs, having joined the club to play with his brother Ben.

He is part of a young crop of Bulldogs who have only known success - the lean years the club endured barely resonating with them. "I haven't really heard much of the full stories and stuff," he said.

"I've heard little snippets of things: how they used to struggle with numbers and stuff. But the years I've played, we've never really experienced that struggle."

In 2018, Maher's first year at the club, he missed out on the grand final loss to Inverell due to a head knock but was part of the 2019 premiership win.

Undefeated and untested after five rounds, Gunnedah play the second-placed Swans at No 1 Oval on Saturday. "It's gonna be a great game," Maher enthused.

The young man with the plan for his future would like to continue his footy adventure in Bathurst, and would love to return to Gunnedah and play for the Dogs during holidays.

The chance to one day unite on the field with some of the club's under-14 players is also a powerful attraction. "It will be great to see some of those fellas come up and play [senior men]," he said.