Luke Beveridge says Western Bulldogs have ‘soul-searching’ to do after 35-point loss to Collingwood

WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says his team got complacement against Collingwood after a positive start but a goalless second half and a 35-point loss leaves his club and his players with some serious thinking to do.

The Bulldogs started well but were dominated by the Magpies in the second half. Picture: Michael Klein

WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge on Friday night lamented complacency around the ball for his side’s 35-point loss to Collingwood at Etihad Stadium.

The 2016 premiers led by 26 points early in the game before eight unanswered Magpies goals off the back of Brodie Grundy’s stoppage brilliance saw the healthy margin diminish rapidly.

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While hailing Collingwood’s ferocity, Beveridge said the Bulldogs must do some “soul-searching” quickly to bounce back into winning form.

“The ball came out of our forward half way too easy,” Beveridge said.

“It felt like for most of the game our back end … they held it together pretty well, but our backmen can’t defend those open plays.

The Bulldogs started well but were dominated by the Magpies in the second half. Picture: Michael Klein

“The 12 through the middle of the ground and forward of the ball just became complacent, as much as that’s disappointing and deflating, at least we know what it is, at least we know we can fix it.”

The Bulldogs looked “pretty good” in the first quarter, kicking five goals to one including two from point-blank range after 50m penalties.

They held their own early in the second term before the Magpies rallied, with Adam Treloar, Scott Pendlebury and Tom Phillips leading the charge.

“Our method needs to be matched by energy, endurance, some speed, some execution in skill, and it all fell apart after quarter time,” Beveridge said.

Marcus Bontempelli didn’t have his best game. Picture: Michael Klein

“That’s something we believe we’re capable of, we believe we can play a strong four quarters than what we did tonight but the evidence over the last two weeks says otherwise.”

Beveridge cleared Jason Johannisen of any injury after the high hit from Mason Cox, but Bulldogs defender Zaine Cordy will be monitored this week after sitting out the second half with a bout of delayed concussion.

Beveridge was unclear about when Cordy copped the knock to the head, only to say it was brought to his attention at halftime that he wouldn’t be available for the remainder of the game.

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Originally published as Luke Beveridge says Western Bulldogs have ‘soul-searching’ to do after 35-point loss to Collingwood