Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has enjoyed an unblemished start to his coaching career, with two wins in as many games.
The first year coach has implemented a fast paced game style at the Bulldog that has delighted fans and onlookers alike in the opening rounds of the season.
Beveridge, speaking with 3AW Football on Sunday morning, praised his side with the way they had implemented his directives.
“To date they’ve been able to cope with it, it is quite demanding.
“We’re obviously playing a little bit quicker so you’re a bit more vulnerable on turnover so trying to get the footy back and save opposition rebound becomes more problematic.”
In two rounds of football however, the Bulldogs have suitably impressed and are leading the competition in tackles, with Marcus Bontempelli and Luke Dahlhaus ranked number one and two in the statistical category.
Beveridge was humble in his assessment however, noting that the challenge had now been set for his side to maintain the standards set in their opening two games.
“We were hopeful that we’d get off to a good one… you’re not really sure if it stands up but we’ve had a little bit of validation over the last couple of weeks, so it looks promising.
“To date we’ve been a little bit surprised and impressed with the way the boys have been able to work both ways.
“Hopefully we can sustain it and as they get a year or two older they’ll be even more capable.”
Beveridge also shared his thoughts on rumours that the AFL would remove the substitute rule for the 2016 season, emphasising that the stigma attached to the substitute vest was not one he was comfortable with.
“I feel for the players with it, each week, every week there’s a player whose preparation is interrupted a little bit because they’ve got to be the sub and it changes their next month of footy.
“Even the player that gets subbed off, sitting there in a red vest, I just don’t like the look for the players… As a coach I can manage it but I just think it doesn’t add to our game.
“22 players for each side each week seems like the way to go for me.”