Luke Beveridge says his team’s poor goalkicking is a ‘continual frustration’

The Western Bulldogs were shaping up as one of the best stories of the season after their 2-0 start to their 2019 campaign. However, another week of dismal goalkicking means that is just a memory.

How can the Western Bulldogs fix their goalkicking? Picture: AAP Images

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has labelled his team’s poor goalkicking a “continual frustration” as another dismal day in front of the sticks headlined their third consecutive defeat.

The Dogs have botched their 2-0 start to the season and managed just seven goals from 53 entries (13 per cent) in Sunday’s 44-point hammering against the previously winless Carlton.

Captain Easton Wood, Marcus Bontempelli, Billy Gowers, Tom Liberatore, Bailey Williams, Lachie Hunter and Tim English combined for 2.11.

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Gowers’ pair of misses early in the third quarter were answered immediately with Blues goals.

The Dogs have ranked in the bottom four for accuracy in each of the past four seasons despite their weight of inside 50s.

“(We got beaten) in the middle at the start and after that it was just efficiency going forward,” Beveridge said.

“We just couldn’t get any momentum. At times we felt like we were getting going we’d miss fairly easy goals and couldn’t put them under any pressure.

Luke Beveridge is frustrated with his side’s lack of accuracy. Picture: AAP Images

“Too many of our players were off. It’s a continual frustration. We had too many long range shots that fell short as well.

“We spoke about it then, we needed to be better at it. We just have to be better. It’s not like we don’t train it.”

Gowers’ return of 26 goals last season was their best individual effort in 2017-18. After Round 5 Gowers, Tory Dickson and Sam Lloyd lead the goalkicking with just seven majors each.

Beveridge praised debutants Will Hayes (21 disposals) and Lachie Young and said second-year flanker Ed Richards’ penetrating run and one-on-one work in the second half was a highlight.

Emerging star Aaron Naughton (five disposals) was beaten by ex-Dog Liam Jones but Beveridge said he never contemplated throwing him back to defence, where he starred as a junior and for most of last year.

The Western Bulldogs have now lost three matches in a row. Picture: AAP Images

“We needed to score to win. We didn’t really have anyone else to go forward,” Beveridge said.

“Although Naughts had a challenging day we felt like we needed to persist and the tide would turn. Ultimately it didn’t, we didn’t get enough clean supply.

“It’s always there (as an option) but we feel like if we do that we may be succumbing a bit.”

Footscray had the bye and Beveridge said it was too soon to speculate whether struggling forward Josh Schache would be recalled.