Coach Challenges Team to Improve in Contested Possessions
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has called on the less prominent players in his squad to step up and make a difference in the contested aspect of the game, following their unexpected loss to Carlton at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night. The Blues dominated the Dogs in contested possessions, recording 140 to 109, which was a significant factor in their victory.
With two of the Bulldogs’ top performers in that area, Tom Liberatore and Tim English, sidelined due to injuries, the responsibility once again fell on Marcus Bontempelli to lead the way, with an impressive 11 contested possessions. However, Beveridge emphasized that the team cannot rely solely on the usual suspects to win such crucial aspects of the game.
“We can’t rely on the usual suspects to win that category in the columns,” Beveridge said. “We need more to be better at that side of it, so that’s part of our journey to progress in those facets. There are a number of boys who are finding their way with that.”
He highlighted that the discrepancy in contested possessions was one of the biggest seen in a long time for the Bulldogs. Historically, only one or two players have taken on this role for the team, but those individuals are no longer part of the current squad. As a result, other players must rise to the occasion and fill the gap.
“Until they do, we’re going to be a bit vulnerable,” Beveridge added.
Lack of Competition in VFL Adds to Concerns
Beveridge is also concerned about the lack of competition within the VFL, as he believes there aren’t many players eager to break into the senior team. This issue was further highlighted by the Bulldogs’ poor performance against Carlton at the state-league level.
“We played a really disappointing game against Carlton at state-league level today as well,” he said. “We haven’t had a good day, and we’ve always been at our best when there’s been real competition for spots. That really isn’t there at the moment.”
This lack of competition could hinder the development of younger players and limit the team’s depth, making it even harder to recover from key injuries.
Injuries Compound the Problem
The Bulldogs’ struggles were further compounded by a growing list of injured players. Star ball winner Bailey Williams (hamstring) has joined Sam Darcy (knee), English (concussion), Liberatore (concussion), James O’Donnell (hamstring), Cody Weightman (knee), and Laitham Vandermeer (hamstring) on the injury list.
The match against Carlton was largely scrappy, with a tense and hard-fought first three quarters. The Blues managed to break the game open in the final term, which was particularly frustrating for Beveridge.
Carlton kicked the first five goals of the quarter and dominated in inside 50s, with a 19-4 advantage in the decisive period. Beveridge noted the team’s inability to maintain pressure during this critical time.
“I think we only had it inside our 50 twice (for the quarter) with about five or six minutes to go,” he said. “To think when the game was on line for them to come out of center bounce like they did and win the contested elements… the disappointing part about it is it wasn’t us who broke the shackles and came hard in that last quarter.”
Disparity in Effort and Performance
Beveridge pointed out a clear difference in how the players covered the ground and the ability to win contests at ground level. He acknowledged that while the Bulldogs were leading most of the night, they never felt like they were doing enough to secure the win.
“Their endeavour was high. You could tell it was just a level above ours,” he said. “That’ll hurt the players all week.”
The loss serves as a wake-up call for the Bulldogs, highlighting the need for improvement in key areas of the game. With several key players injured and a lack of competition in the VFL, the team must find ways to adapt and strengthen their performance moving forward.
