Bulldogs ‘own up' to unavoidable fact

Perth Now

a day ago

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge knows his team has to 'own up' to a poor record against top eight teams but is adamant his side has the game to stack up in finals.
The Bulldogs dismissed yet another lower ranked team on Thursday night, putting North Melbourne away by 49 points in its centenary celebration at Marvel Stadium.
Until Saturday night, pending Geelong and Hawthorn wins, the Bulldogs will hold fourth position on the ladder without defeating a side inside the top eight.
Beveridge was initially playful with the word 'scalp' before declaring his side needed multiple of them to build its foundation for another premiership push.
'Scalp, we're not Navajo Indians, I don't necessarily think we need to brutalise it like that; I am joking, I am joking,' he said with a laugh.
'I think what we need is to keep winning to capitalise on our opportunity.
'The difference between one of the better sides and (being) in that mid-tier pack is winning those close ones against the more formidable opponents.
'If you say, 'Do you need a scalp?' … the short answer to it would be, 'We need scalps to finish high up on ladder' – we can't back away from that.'
The Bulldogs have two chances at a top-eight win in as many weeks, with Adelaide and Brisbane in successive rounds.
Beveridge is confident the Bulldogs are improving on previous performances against fellow good sides but knows they will need to be at their best to topple the Crows.
'We've had a pretty productive year, these teams who have beaten us who are above us, it hasn't been by much,' he said.
'Even though Sydney are below us, they brought a game style I think would stack up against any team in the competition, it was a pretty important win for us last week.
'Earlier in the year those games were going the other way … we acknowledge these are going to be tests, big tests against very good sides.
'I could see Adelaide coming at the end of last year, it's no surprise to us with their personnel and their acquisitions … no surprise they are where they are.
'Last time we played them there in Adelaide, they jumped us, took control and we were a bit second rate against them … we'll relish the challenge.
'We've got to own up to the fact that we haven't beaten anyone above us, we're in the mix but there's some opportunities on the stretch to keep winning.'