AFL: Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge wants greater consistency from team as Tim O’Brien returns

The Bulldogs are yet to win two matches in a row this season but could achieve that elusive feat against Gold Coast in Ballarat.

The Bulldogs have had an unhealthy reliance on key forward Aaron Naughton this year. Picture: Getty Images

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has challenged his players to banish their “spasmodic” form and provide greater support for Aaron Naughton.

The Bulldogs have struggled with inconsistency and will gun for back-to-back victories for the first time this season – 10 rounds in – against in-form Gold Coast in Ballarat on Saturday.

After starting the season with defeats to top-four teams Melbourne and Carlton, Beveridge’s men have gone win-loss ever since.

“It’s notable we haven’t had any momentum beyond one week, and that, in many ways, has been a bit disconcerting,” the coach said.

“We’re obviously not overly happy with the fact that our formline has been spasmodic, so that’s our intention to start to pile a couple of wins on top of each other, and who knows where that might head?

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge wants to see more consistency from his side. Picture: Getty Images

“But there’s no better week to do it than round 10.”

As Beveridge previously pointed out, the Dogs have been mostly competitive in defeat, with three of them by 17 points or fewer.

But one area he wants to see improvement in is the spread of goalkickers, so as to have less reliance on power forward Aaron Naughton, whose 22 goals are 10 more than the next-best teammate, Cody Weightman.

On that front, Beveridge was buoyed to see Adam Treloar – who will play his 200th match against the Suns – Buku Khamis and Josh Dunkley join Naughton in kicking three goals each in last week’s 48-point win over Collingwood.

Son-of-a-gun Rhylee West also earned praise for his 16 disposals and five tackles in a forward role.

Adam Treloar is set to bring up his 200-game milestone on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

“We had 10 goalkickers against Essendon (in round 7) and Aaron Naughton didn’t kick one of those – he created some – and you win the game,” he said.

“Last week we had four guys kick three each, which was unusual, but it was a good spread and we’re looking for that again this week.

“The one constant down there’s been Aaron and he’s having a really consistent, really powerful year. I think if we were going a bit better, as far as our ladder position goes, his performances would be noted a little bit more.”

Gold Coast’s ability to kick 10.9 from only 36 inside 50s in its upset of Fremantle, with recruits Mabior Chol and Levi Casboult holding the fort without injured Ben King, caught Beveridge’s attention.

Alex Keath and the Bulldogs’ backline will play an important role against Gold Coast. Picture: Getty Images

But he was confident Tim O’Brien’s return, alongside fellow key defenders Alex Keath and Ryan Gardner, would hold the Bulldogs in good stead.

“They’ll give each other the requisite help in the air,” Beveridge said.

“It does mean at times that their fleet-of-foot smaller forwards might be a handful for some of our bigger guys – depending on the mix and balance of our backline – but we will be well-equipped.

“The boys play a strong system down there when they’re at their best. They’ll help each other in the air and on the ground and hopefully we can nullify their threats.”

Taylor Duryea and Jason Johannisen couldn’t be considered because of illness, but Tim English appears to have turned the corner in his own flu battle and seems likely to return next week.