MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 20: Marcus Bontempelli of the Bulldogs looks dejected after a loss during the 2023 AFL Round 23 match between the Western Bulldogs and the West Coast Eagles at Marvel Stadium on August 20, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
“We’re issuing a challenge to all”: Bulldogs assert themselves against fatigued Saints.
The Saints experienced their poorest performance under Ross 2.0, with the coach attributing it to the strain of three games in 11 days. He acknowledged that the showing was an anomaly rather than reflective of their overall status as a team.
The Western Bulldogs now venture to Western Australia to face Fremantle, aiming to build upon their recent victory as the coach instigates changes to elevate the team’s standing in the league.
“We hold ourselves to high standards, recognizing both internal and external expectations,” Beveridge stated. “Despite concerns about consistency, we see great potential in our squad.”
With the introduction of new players, competition for positions intensifies, even among seasoned stars like Jack Macrae, Bailey Dale, and Caleb Daniel. Macrae and Dale particularly stood out in the recent triumph, with Dale tallying a career-best 40 possessions. Beveridge emphasized the need for every player to elevate their game and adapt to evolving team dynamics.
While this demand for improvement may have initially been challenging to accept, Dale acknowledged that once he grasped what was required to regain his form, he committed to implementing it diligently.
