Western Bulldogs won’t play the victim as harsh restrictions hit finals preparation

It could be the most unusual build-up to an AFL final ever, but Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge knows just what cards to play.

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says his players can handle any challenge thrown at them. Picture: Steve Bell/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Playing the “victor card” not the victim card could be the crucial approach the Western Bulldogs use to navigate more than 24 hours confined to a Brisbane hotel room before Saturday’s do-or-die semi-final clash with the Lions.

Ruckman Stefan Martin won’t play, and Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge ruled him out for the rest of the season as he struggles with a groin injury. Number one draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan also won’t play against the Lions, with minimal team changes likely.

Beveridge revealed the club was happy with the 7.20pm start and had negotiated a captain’s run training session at the Gabba on Friday afternoon after flying from Launceston where they have been based this week after an elimination final win over Essendon.

But that, and the players having lunch together on Saturday, are the only luxuries afforded the Dogs who will otherwise be “domiciled” in their rooms up until the time they leave for the game.

Beveridge said the strict quarantine rules had become a regular part of his team’s season that had already included road wins in Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast and last week in Launceston.

The Western Bulldogs are a resilient bunch. Picture: Grant Viney/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Having navigated the unusual build-up well before, albeit this time being for a final, he said doing it again was well within his team’s capabilities

“To at least be able to stretch the legs and have a bit of a shuffle (on Friday) … ticking that one off is critical,” Beveridge said on Thursday.

“We’ve been able to organise for the players to at least have lunch together, that’s the biggest luxury we have been afforded, if you can call it a luxury. Other than that we are confined to three floors in the hotel.

“Our players have been extremely resilient, when you go away, and this year we know that your lead-up is compromised as far as your accommodations and your freedoms and so you can turn that into a real positive.

“You can play the victim card or you can play the victor card. I think we’ve been able to stay positive and galvanise a little bit on the road as well. This is another opportunity.

“We go this one this week and hope there’s another couple of in the air and on the road challenges to come.”

Luke Beveridge concedes the Bulldogs squandered a top four spot. Picture: Steve Bell/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Beveridge conceded the Bulldogs “squandered” their top four spot over the last month of the regular season because they “weren’t as focused as we had been” on doing the things required to win.

But the second-half demolition of the Bombers, kicking eight goals to none, a week after narrowly losing to potential preliminary final opponents Port Adelaide, had reminded the Bulldogs players what they were capable of.

“It was a huge boost considering the pressure publicly and internally we found ourselves under,” Beveridge said.

“We worked extremely hard to get ourselves into a position and then we squandered it in the last month or so. We didn’t shy away from that.

“You do search for some stimulus, show the odd video and remind our players of some of the really good stuff against genuinely tough opposition. Coming out of the (Essendon) game there were plenty of highlights for us to leverage off.”

Beveridge suggested a lockdown role on Brisbane star Lachie Neale, who had a finals record 46 possessions against Melbourne last week, was on the cards on Saturday.

“It’s an important tactical consideration,” Beveridge said, pointing to some second-half success last week in the wet against Essendon star Darcy Parish.

Beveridge said Ugle-Hagan, who has played just five matches in 2021 and was dropped after the round 21 clash against Essendon, didn’t suit the current Bulldogs forward mix.

“Jamarra showed some really promising form and we loved what he did when he came into the team,” Beveridge said.

“What he was fortunate to have in that time was a big guy named Josh Bruce next to him who could buffer the load, take the first and second defender with ‘Naughts’ (Aaron Naughton). It’s probably no coincidence that when ‘Brucey’ went out of the side, unfortunately, Jamarra came out as well.

“Jamarra is there, absolutely, we can use him if we need him but as I mentioned earlier, our forward line functioned pretty well and (Josh) Schache did a tremendous job coming in and playing that role after a long time. ”

Originally published as Western Bulldogs won’t play the victim as harsh restrictions hit finals preparation