We won’t be bullied again, declares Bulldogs coach
Luke Beveridge says his players will be ready if GWS attack them with strong physical play.
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge vowed his team would be ready for any physical onslaught from Greater Western Sydney this time as they prepare for a crunch match against their arch rivals.
The Bulldogs were monstered by GWS in their last meeting when the Giants scored a 58-point win in last year’s elimination final, targeting midfield ace and new captain Marcus Bontempelli.
Describing the Giants’ physicality as a “confronting style of play”, Beveridge was unsure if GWS would again come with the same muscle but said his players were prepared.
“It’s a given that our group will be aware,” Beveridge said.
“Whether they (the Giants) come with the same attitude or intent or not, we’ll be prepared with whatever comes our way.
“But the important thing is that when push comes to shove that you win the game of football.
“It’s too far in the rear vision mirror, the elimination (final) we have moved on and now it’s all about us as a team finding our best football, whether it’s GWS this week or one of the other teams that we haven’t played.”
The Bulldogs are fighting to kickstart their season after two losses, while the Giants were stung last week in an upset loss to North Melbourne at home.
Beveridge said the Giants’ fight in last year’s finals series had served them well, but his team would not be distracted by retaliatory tactics.
“I said to (Giants coach) Leon (Cameron) when we caught up recently, if they won the flag last year I think it would have been one of the greatest coaching feats of all time,” Beveridge said.
“For what they did, that confronting style of play and the fight within the fight, they did it extremely well … leading up to the grand final; they almost pulled it off. It’s hard to sustain that.
“Our team is a group that needs to find a four-quarter performance and it won’t be happening through distraction or diverting your attention to something that isn’t the core aspects of playing hard footy.
“We will go out on Friday night aiming to be as competitive and as formidable as we can and that will be all about the game and the Sherrin and winning it and doing our best to overcome GWS.”
Meanwhile, fans will be able to attend games in Queensland from this weekend.
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said Queensland stadiums will be able to host up to 2000 supporters for AFL and NRL games from Saturday as a “trial run”.
The Brisbane Lions clash with West Coast at the Gabba on Saturday night. On Sunday at Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast host Adelaide before Fremantle take on Port Adelaide.
“We are absolutely pumped to get the news this morning,” Lions CEO Greg Swann said.
“We hope the people who do get here make plenty of noise, that they can fill the stadium with lots of cheering … and maybe booing the opposition as well.”
Swann said 1250 of the 2000 fans allowed would be randomly selected from Lions members via an online ballot, with the remainder filled by corporate partners and sponsors plus 100 tickets on sale to the public.
The Dockers, Eagles and Port are expecting an update from the AFL on how they can allocate seating at their Gold Coast games.
Herald Sun, AAP
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