Matthew Panos Biography

Matthew Panos is diagnosed with dengue fever during a holiday in Ko Samui with his girlfriend.

"I wasn't feeling well for a couple of days, thought it was food poisoning but it was getting worse so I thought I had better go to hospital," Panos said.

"It was a lot worse than food poisoning… the doctor was pretty concerned and it shocked me a little bit with the things he was saying.

"He advised us not to fly – we were due to fly home in three days – because my platelet levels were too low.

"I was lucky that it didn't last as long as it could have."

Former Western Bulldogs forward Matthew Panos is poised to re-enter the AFL system after transforming into a big-bodied midfielder and leading SANFL club Norwood to the 2014 premiership with a best-on-ground performance.

Panos, who spent 2010-2012 with the Bulldogs but played only six NAB Cup games, has attracted the interest of six clubs ahead of this year's draft and he will attend the South Australia state screening.

"The coaches discussed putting Matt Panos into the midfield, which is something he had never done, but from game one it worked," Norwood football manager Mark Ross said.

"There were aspects of it that made sense, because when your disposal is immaculate, you're six-foot-two, and you can catch it over your head you become a very big bonus in the midfield.

"Then there's his ability to win a clearance and get it off by hand or foot in the direction you want.

"He's got really clean hands, he's a beautiful kick and a good decision-maker, and they're three things that all recruiters look at."

Western Bulldogs youngsters Luke Dahlhaus, Matthew Panos, Liam Jones, Christian Howard, Dylan Addison and Lukas Markovic all sign contract extensions with the club.

"This is an extremely positive outcome for our club and completes the re-signings of our remaining players, including the upgrade of two emerging talents off the rookie list," Bulldogs general manager of football James Fantasia said.

Touted as a first-round draft pick, Matthew Panos had to wait until the NAB AFL Rookie Draft to find his way to the Whitten Oval.

"I was quite upset when I didn't get picked up in the national draft," Panos told afl.com.au.

"My hopes weren't extremely high, but I was still disappointed not to get picked up. Now, I'm just really excited to be on an AFL list and to be with the Bulldogs, who have had good success over the past few years."