AFL 2024: Luke Beveridge says Western Bulldogs can handle five-day break

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says his side can avoid the five-day break blues suffered by Carlton last week.

First-year Bulldogs Ryley Sanders (pictured) and Joel Freijah are set to play in the VFL as Luke Beveridge keeps the team that thrashed Sydney untouched. Picture: Michael Willson / Getty Images

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge thinks his side can handle the demands of a five-day break on Friday night as he backs in the same troops that toppled Sydney.

First-year guns Ryley Sanders and Joel Freijah are set to play in the VFL curtain-raiser ahead of the Dogs’ important clash against Melbourne despite being “managed” last week.

Few five-day breaks have been given to clubs in the post-bye fixture, and Carlton looked clearly affected by its short turnaround in last Friday’s loss to Port Adelaide.

But Beveridge said his side was well positioned to handle the physical demands of facing the Demons at Marvel Stadium.

“I think we’re pretty right … ultimately the timing of it, I think you just need to get a bit lucky,” he said.

“Everyone’s just got to face up to the fact that there’s fives (five-day breaks) and occasionally you get longer ones – sometimes the longer ones are even more difficult.

No.6 pick Ryley Sanders will return to the VFL for at least a week after being squeezed out of the Bulldogs side following their dominant win over Sydney. Picture: Daniel Pockett / Getty Images

“When you come off a win, sometimes it’s better to have a longer week so you transition in … generally the players if we don’t go so well, they almost want to play two days later.

“I think we’re pretty healthy. That’s pretty encouraging after playing the top side.”

Beveridge suggested Sanders and Freijah would have been picked to face Sydney if he considered them in the Bulldogs’ strongest available mix.

“There was an eye to the future with the short turnaround and keeping some boys fresh, but the team is always picked on who the first-picked 23 are that week,” he said.

“I’m not going to tell you any fibs around that, that’s exactly how the (Swans team) was picked, but it’s good for those guys to have a break in their first year.

“They’re likely to play for the ‘Scray – well, we’re both (called) ‘the ‘Scray’ this week, but they’re likely to play in our VFL team (on Friday).”

Beveridge said he was thrilled for Adam Treloar ahead of his 250th AFL game that the 31-year-old was beginning to receive recognition for the strong defensive side of his game.

Western Bulldogs star Adam Treloar will play his 250th game on Friday night. The 31-year-old is arguably enjoying the best season of his career and could claim his maiden All-Australian blazer. Picture: Mark Stewart

Treloar had a game-high 12 intercept possessions among his 40 disposals against the Swans and is averaging more than three intercepts per game along with Ed Richards in the Bulldogs’ in-form midfield group.

“He’s had great continuity. He’s a real pro, Ads, he’s really measured in his build-up to games,” Beveridge said.

“There’s a lot of layers with Adam, and what I think everyone has began to appreciate is how rounded he is as a player.

“He was rated close to the best tackling player as far as (Collingwood’s) midfield went, so there were all those signs, and he’s just been an incredible, influential player since he got here.

“To see him have the type of year that he has, not miss as many games as he has in the past, has been enormous for us.”

Bulldogs defender James O’Donnell would return from a month out with concussion and hamstring issues but through the VFL after Buku Khamis’s strong form cemented his spot in the backline, Beveridge said.