Western Bulldogs analysis: What can Luke Beveridge do with his underperforming Dogs?

Aaron Naughton, Rory Lobb, Ryan Gardner, Josh Bruce, Alex Keath and James O’Donnell are just some of the Bulldogs struggling to find form. What’s Bevo’s next move?

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 09: The Bulldogs look dejected after losing the round 13 AFL match between Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide Power at Marvel Stadium, on June 09, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

The midfield is menacing but that’s where it ends for the Western Bulldogs.

At both ends of the ground, coach Luke Beveridge has a battle on his hands to get things clicking – and quickly – as his side’s top-four hopes fast begin to fade.

The usual suspects all found plenty of the footy through the middle against Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.

Adam Treloar (34 disposals), Tom Liberatore (33), Marcus Bontempelli (31), Caleb Daniel (29) and Jack Macrae (26) all worked hard in the thick of the action.

They were among the group of players that helped the Bulldogs dominate clearance 47-31 and win contested ball 134-133.

But outside of the midfield wins, there was not a lot to like about the home side in a 22-point loss.

The Bulldogs ball use was particularly poor and the Power made them pay.

Port Adelaide scored 9.8 (62) from often sloppy Bulldogs turnovers in what was effectively the difference in the game on the scoreboard.

It came after the Bulldogs gave up a hefty 10.6 (66) from turnovers against Geelong the previous week.

“Ultimately it was probably some of the blatant stuff, turnover wise, that cost us a little bit,” Beveridge said.

Aaron Naughton hasn’t been hitting the scoreboard. Picture: Getty Images

“During the run of games we were stringing wins together, we were definitely defending turnover better than we have the last few weeks.

“We put that down to a few things. No doubt some instability in our back end with some injuries that we haven’t totally been able to cover. So we’ve just got to support the boys and keep educating them and look for the improvements and press on.”

The injuries Beveridge talks of are rebounding halfbacks Ed Richards and Jason Johannisen, who both have extended stints on the sidelines ahead after bad hamstring injuries.

But the “revolving door” of key defenders is also a problem.

Ryan Gardner was dropped for the match against Port Adelaide, with Josh Bruce and Alex Keath both returning from stints in the VFL.

Bruce struggled, particularly early, on Charlie Dixon.

Dixon kicked three goals in the opening quarter alone on his way to four majors for the match – in what was his first game since Round 8 coming back from injury.

Fellow key forwards Todd Marshall and Jeremy Finlayson (each two goals) also proved a problem for the Bulldogs backline, despite having limited opportunities.

At the other end of the ground, the Bulldogs’ main man in Aaron Naughton is far from firing on all cylinders.

Aliir Aliir had the better of Naughton as he was held to just six disposals, two marks and two goals.

Across his past five games, Naughton has booted just six majors.

He had averaged 2.3 goals across his 22 games last season.

Rory Lobb has struggled to find his best form since joining the Dogs. Picture: Getty Images

Big-name recruit Rory Lobb finished with 14 disposals for the night, but eight of them were handballs.

The 207cm key forward took just three marks and kicked only one behind to make for 2.3 from his past four games.

Bulldogs small forward Arthur Jones has shown promise in his debut season and laid six tackles, but unusually did not register a disposal from 84 minutes of game time.

Another good story this season has been James O’Donnell.

But Bulldogs fans are rightly questioning whether he has been rushed into the team after only joining the club as a category B rookie in April.

O’Donnell recorded just five disposals before being subbed out during the third quarter.

He held his spot in the side despite logging just six disposals and one goal playing across half-forward against Geelong the previous week.

The Bulldogs have nine days to make some adjustments and improvements ahead of a match against North Melbourne next Sunday.

Secure a win there and they will head into the bye with a respectable record of 8-6.

However, more was expected from the 2021 Grand Finalists this year than what is currently being dished up.

This group looked primed to push for a top-four finish after an underwhelming 2022.

But the Bulldogs have not finished top-four since 2010 and after three consecutive losses they don’t look like turning that around this season.

At the moment, they are completely deserving of their ladder position as a middle-of-the-road team.

Josh Bruce was well beaten by Charlie Dixon on Friday night. Picture: Michael Klein

NO BAN FOR BONT AFTER BUMP

Jay Clark

Western Bulldogs can breathe a sigh of relief with superstar Marcus Bontempelli cleared of any rough conduct concerns from Friday night’s loss to Port Adelaide.

Bontempelli ran into the Power’s Dan Houston in an incident which was put under the spotlight due to the league’s crackdown on head-high contact.

But replays showed Bontempelli made only front-on contact with Houston’s shoulder and only glancing contact to Houston’s face.

Marcus Bontempelli collides with Dan Houston on Friday night. Picture: Michael Klein

Houston went down immediately and its likely draw at least some MRO attention. Picture: Michael Klein

The league released its findings on Saturday evening and confirmed no charges had been laid from the Friday night match.

It means Bontempelli will be available to play North Melbourne on Sunday at Marvel Stadium as the Bulldogs desperately try to stay in the eight.

Bontempelli’s Brownlow Medal hopes are also remain alive with the brilliant playmaker the fourth favourite to win the award with TAB.

Scoreboard

DOGS 4.5, 7.5, 9.6, 13.7 (85)

POWER 6.1, 8.3, 12.7, 16.11 (107)

LERNER’S BEST

Dogs: Liberatore, Bontempelli, Weightman, Daniel, Treloar, Dale, B.Smith.

Power: Butters, Aliir, Dixon, Jones, Rozee, Lycett, McKenzie.

GOALS

Dogs: Weightman 3, Ugle-Hagan 2, Naughton 2, Treloar, Daniel, West, Bontempelli, English, Macrae.

Power: Dixon 4, Marshall 2, McEntee 2, Finlayson 2, Horne-Francis 2, Powell-Pepper 2, Butters, Rozee.

UMPIRES Foot, Johanson, Rosebury, Williamson

VENUE Marvel Stadium

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

LERNER’S VOTES

3 Tom Liberatore (WB)

2 Zak Butters (PA)

1 Marcus Bontempelli (WB)