The Western Bulldogs are in the top eight, but they have a job for them if they want to stay.
Although the Western Bulldogs did not enter the Optus Stadium with the goal of a 100-point victory over the West Coast on Saturday night, coach Luke Beveridge said the need for a big victory s ‘was boiling in the background.
The Bulldogs face a tough second half of the season.
And while three straight wins and a massive percentage increase against the Eagles have catapulted the Bulldogs to the top eight, they have the job to stay.
Seven of the Dogs’ remaining games are against teams above them on the ladder, including two against Geelong.
This is the “reward” for playing a great final.
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They can only play with the Eagles once, while Fremantle, Gold Coast, Richmond, Geelong and Adelaide play twice. Cats and Suns’ schedule also includes two games against the Kangaroos, ranked 17th.
The Dogs have four games left against teams below them at the table, two each against the unpredictable Greater Western Sydney and Hawthorn.
As Beveridge points out, however, the travel schedule is as daunting as the teams that still have to play, so getting that 101-point win at Perth helps.
“There’s a competitor in all of us who shows no mercy to the opposition when you have a chance to win a big win,” he said.
“Something I don’t preach and we don’t necessarily focus on is the result. It’s about the core of what you do and the essentials to give you a chance to win games.
“What falls from this falls.
“When the Eagles recently lost an average of 70 points, you know other teams probably had a chance and took advantage.
“We didn’t talk about it, but it was in the background, there’s no doubt about it.
“Now, with what comes next, I don’t think he’s going to give us anything, obviously, but every time you can get some leeway, he always gives you a chance. Every little one counts.
“We have a pretty heavy schedule, so it’s good for us to get ahead of the big book.
“In the next 11 games, six of them will face three rivals, but there are many trips. “We’re going to Brisbane, we’re going to Tassie, we’re going to Sydney, twice.
“We are playing with most of the teams in the top eight, and we still have to play against the Saints, we still have to play again with Carlton, Melbourne again, on top of those other six teams.
“So there are big challenges ahead.”
The Bulldogs overcame the big win on the West Coast unscathed, the only concern of a broken wrist for key striker Aaron Naughton.
Ruckman Tim English and little striker Cody Weightman overtook after several weeks on the sidelines due to injury.
They mistreated the fighting eagles. They had 31 more within 50 innings and 21 more goal shots, 28 more disputed possessions and 10 more dispatches.
The Dogs had 16 goal-scoring goals, equaling the AFL record.
While the Dogs needed the big win, Beveridge supported Simpson, with whom he worked at Hawthorn, to get the Eagles to overcome this difficult stage.
“Ultimately, after the event you can’t help but feel what the Eagles are going through, because they’ve obviously had a lot of injuries, but then Covid’s situation and what has transpired has made the club very good.” he said. .
“Simmo and I are very close and he is a confidant; I consider him a friend.
“It simply came to our notice then.
“The only thing about Simmo is that he talks about unity, but he represents it. He unifies people and is a great leader. I’m sure the Eagles will be fine and Adam will be instrumental in overcoming the current challenges they face.”