Western Bulldogs missing midfield power of premiership year amid injuries and form slumps

THE key ingredient in the Western Bulldogs’ drought-breaking 2016 flag was raw coalface power but half way into their premiership defence, the Dogs are more bark than bite.

Liam Picken tries to slip out of a tackle by Callum Mills.

THE hunter has become the hunted.

The key ingredient in the Western Bulldogs’ drought-breaking 2016 flag was raw coalface power.

They hunted the contested ball and they hunted the clearance with a manic assault that almost ambushed sides throughout the season and went to another level again in four incredible finals.

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But half way into their premiership defence, the Dogs are more bark than bite as they battle to gain continuity in the face of injuries and form slumps.

Suddenly, the Sons of the West are vulnerable in-close and today at Etihad Stadium they will undergo a fierce examination by a previously unlikely source — Melbourne.

Luke Beveridge’s Bulldogs have gone from averaging 16.5 more contested possessions than their opposition each week — ranked No.1 in the competition — to +0.2 (ranked 10th). Melbourne is this year ranked 4th at +6.6 per game.

Liam Picken tries to slip out of a tackle by Callum Mills.

Clearance differential has fallen from +6.2 per game (1st) to -3.5 (14th). The Demons go at +2.9 a week -ranked 5th.

Then there’s goals per inside 50m. The Dogs struggled to capitalise on entries for much of last season before hitting a purple patch late, but the issue has returned with venom this year.

The Bulldogs are the worst team in the competition at converting forward entries to goals, kicking a major from only 21.8 per cent of their inside 50s. Melbourne? The fourth-best in the AFL at 26.3 per cent.

As a consequence the Bulldogs rank a lowly 14th in points-scored at 83.7 a week. Melbourne is 4th at 100.7.

“I think last year we were in similar territory and we did change that from an outcome perspective in the back end of the year,” Beveridge said.

“We’re ambitious in that area, we feel we can be a lot better and we don’t hope, but we believe it will tidy itself up as time goes by. But it’s not good enough at the moment.”

Bob Murphy looks to handball while being tackled by Jade Gresham.

Of more concern to Beveridge is what’s happening at the source.

“Their (Melbourne’s) strength and their power through there, we come up against something we’ve got to combat,” he said.

“It’s been interesting with the changes in ‘Dunks’ (Josh Dunkley) and Clay (Smith) not there and all that. We’re evolving and finding ways. Toby McLean’s been pretty good inside, Caleb Daniel’s been really good ... all the time that we’re maybe not at our absolute best, our younger players are benefiting from new experiences.”

Both teams go into the clash at 6-5, but only one is hunting.

THE BIG TEST

Where the Western Bulldogs need to improve to roll Melbourne

MIDFIELD

DISPOSAL DIFFERENTIAL

Demons: +44.7 (1st)

Bulldogs: +9.3 (8th)

CONTESTED POSSESSION DIFFERENTIAL

Demons: +6.6 (4th)

Bulldogs: +0.2 (10th)

CLEARANCE DIFFERENTIAL

Demons: +2.9 (5th)

Bulldogs: -3.5 (14th)

TACKLE DIFFERENTIAL

Demons: +5 (4th)

Bulldogs: -0.4 (10th)

SCORING

POINTS FOR

Demons: 100.7 (4th)

Bulldogs: 83.7 (14th)

GOALS PER I50

Demons: 26.3% (4th)

Bulldogs: 21.8% (18th)

TERRITORY

POINTS FROM FORWARD HALF TURNOVERS

Demons: 41.1 (3rd)

Bulldogs: 29.3 (10th)

ON THE LEASH (ranking points drop 2016-17)

Matthew Boyd: 100 ... 73.6 ... -26.4

Tom Campbell: 75.7 ... 56.2 ... -19.5

Lachie Hunter: 92.7 ... 74.7 ... -18

Dale Morris: 67 ... 54.3 ... -12.7

Josh Dunkley: 74.6 ... 62 ... -12.6

Liam Picken: 87.5 ... 75.2 ... -12.3

Clay Smith: 75.9 ... 64.2 ... -11.7

SOURCE: Champion Data