Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge cools talk of star ruckman’s return
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has offered a major update on a star ruckman’s chance of returning to action ahead of the finals.
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On the back of a three-game losing streak heading into the 2021 AFL finals series, the Western Bulldogs could do with a jolt of energy into the side, and star ruckman Stefan Martin’s return might just do the trick.
That is, if he can get himself fully fit for the Bulldogs’ clash against Essendon on Sunday.
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Martin has endured a stop-start season, no thanks to a combination of achilles, shoulder and hip injuries.
The 34-year-old is in his first season with the Footscray outfit after spending seven years with the Brisbane Lions.
With Martin playing just one game of AFL in the past three months, Beveridge runs the risk of sending in an undercooked ruckman to the wolves against an in-form Essendon side that has won three matches in a row, with one of those wins coming against the Bulldogs.
But the 51-year-old maintains his team selection won’t be a case of caving in to public pressure.
“I think there’s a clear lack of understanding of our game from the commentary in the public domain,” Beveridge said.
“What do you think happens if we put a player out there that can’t run the game out? The pressure that he puts on his teammate? The probability that we can’t get to the line as a group?
“That’s the biggest consideration.
“It’s not whether Stef can turn up to stoppages and stand there and try and get his hand on the ball. It’s whether or not he can play four quarters, and it’s whether or not he can operate in the turnover game which is the primary consideration.”
As for Martin’s schedule leading into his return to training, it makes for somewhat grim reading for those hoping to see the 34-year-old return to the line-up against Essendon.
“He hasn’t played much footy, he’s had one full session, he’s had one full practice match which was eight 12-minute periods,” Beveridge said.
“It’s not great preparation going into a final.
“I think everyone’s got to understand what the situation is.
“If we pick Stefan, we’re taking a big risk. I’m not saying we won’t, there’s a chance we might.
“But ultimately the overall consideration needs to be pressuring the line, four full quarters of combative footy against an Essendon side that has got some momentum.
“If we feel that Stef hasn’t done the yards and won’t be able to get there for the four quarters, then most likely he won’t be in the team.”
The ruck position has been an issue of late for the Bulldogs, with Tim English performing admirably throughout the season but not to the levels displayed by Martin before his injuries.
Beveridge’s side must turn around their patchy form of late if they want to repeat the club’s heroics of 2016 when they won their first premiership in 62 years.
The Bulldogs’ elimination final against Essendon takes place at the University of Tasmania Stadium, with the first bounce scheduled for 3.20pm AEST.
Originally published as Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge cools talk of star ruckman’s return
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