New captain Easton Wood says Western Bulldogs know how to recapture best form in 2018

NEW Western Bulldogs captain Easton Wood says the Dogs know how to recapture their premiership-winning form and he will be a different captain to the one that took the club to its drought-breaking flag.

Easton Wood says the Bulldogs know how to recapture the form that saw them win the premiership in 2016. Picture: Michael Klein.

NEW captain Easton Wood says the Bulldogs know how to recapture its premiership-winning form and it’s as simple as an even contribution across the playing group.

The Bulldogs this year became the first premiership team to miss the finals since Hawthorn in 2009 after a disappointing season that saw players, coaches and club officials field constant questions about the possibility of a premiership hangover.

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Wood, who was officially named captain for season 2018 on Monday, says the way to recapture the team’s best form is simple.

“I felt last year (2017) we didn’t get an even contribution across the board, whereas that was a real trademark of us previously,” Wood said. “When we played you’d get 22 blokes have real impact across the game.

“For whatever reason we kind of lost that a little bit.

Easton Wood with the 2016 premiership cup. Picture: Michel Klein

“We’ve got to get boys back to their best and get them firing so we can have, when guys come in and guys come out of the team, the guys that we have out there on the weekend we know are going to get that full contribution.

“That’s what we’re looking forward to this year.”

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The Bulldogs won 11 games in 2017 and finished tenth on the ladder, down from 15 in the home-and-away season in 2016.

But the dip in form as done little to sway Wood’s confidence as coach Luke Beveridge plots the way forward.

“(2017) was a challenging year for a lot of us, and Bevo, there was challenges there for him also,” Wood told RSN927

Easton Wood says the Bulldogs know how to recapture the form that saw them win the premiership in 2016. Picture: Michael Klein.

“We’re looking to really make this year a great one and it’s a fresh slate, which is always exciting.

“The possibilities ahead have got me excited.”

The Bulldogs’ forward line will take on a new look next season, with recruit Josh Schache impressing in his first training sessions since crossing from Brisbane.

He could replace retired big man Travis Cloke in the line-up and the traded Jake Stringer, while new leadership group member Jack Redpath will be hoping to recapture his top form after returning from a serious knee injury.

Former Port Adelaide utility Jackson Trengove, who arrived at the Bulldogs via free agency, will also add flexibility to the tall stocks.

The Bulldogs emerged as a surprise suitor for Schache on the final day of the trade period last month, with a deal struck with just minutes before the trade deadline.

The former Lion has made a good first impression on Wood, who says is happy to be back in Melbourne and closer to his family.

Josh Schache in his new colours. Picture: Nicole GarmstonJosh Schache is much happier back in Melbourne. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Josh Schache in his new colours. Picture: Nicole GarmstonJosh Schache is much happier back in Melbourne. Picture: Nicole Garmston

“I got to have lunch with him before we got back and he was just a happy kid,” Wood said of Schache.

“He seems to be pretty excited to be in Melbourne and excited to have a new challenge, meeting some new guys and getting back close around his family, which is important to him.

“I’m really excited to have him part of the group.”

Despite already being a premiership captain, Wood says now he officially has the role, rather than standing in for Bob Murphy, he’ll approach it differently than in 2016.

“I’ll definitely have to do it my way and be genuine,” Wood said. “I’ve learnt that from some of the best guys that if you can’t be genuine then guys can’t follow you because if you don’t believe what you’re saying then how do you expect them to?

“That will mean I’ll have to do it a little bit differently and that’s part of the exciting part, I get to find out what that is.”