WESTERN Bulldogs captain Brad Johnson said a collective decision by his teammates to focus on starting games better had contributed to their recent rich vein of form.
In the first six rounds of the season, the Bulldogs averaged less than two and a half goals in their first quarters, for a return of three wins and three losses.
Recently the Dogs have averaged over five in the opening quarter across the past six games – five of which they've won.
"You focus on it every week, but it was something we struggled with early in the season," Johnson said, the week after the Dogs kicked 9.8 in the first term against Hawthorn.
"We hadn't kicked a lot of goals early in games but we've been able to change that over the last three weeks.
"It was certainly brought to the players' attention. When things get brought to our attention, we certainly like to focus on them so we can get them right and don't have to worry about that side of our game anymore."
He admitted he was "a little surprised" at how easily last year's premiers crumbled during Saturday night's 88-point hiding, and was impressed by how his side finally managed to play a whole game.
"We were out there to compete as hard as we could and we were happy with the way we brought that from the start of the game," he said.
"We pretty much played four quarters out, which is something we've been endeavouring to do as we've probably only really done it twice since the start of the season."
Johnson predicted this Friday night's clash between his side and the fourth-placed Collingwood loomed as a showstopper.
"It's a big game. Both sides are fighting for a top four spot and they're looking to take third on the ladder from us," he said.
"It's going to be a fantastic game of footy and we're really looking forward to the challenge."
The Dogs' captain admitted he was impressed by Sunday's contest between ladder-leaders St Kilda and Geelong, but said he felt his side had the ability to match it with both despite losing to them earlier in the season.
"St Kilda got off to a flyer and then Geelong brought them back and chipped away at them as the game went along," he said.
"It was a great game of footy and I think everyone who is involved in footy would have loved the contest. As opposition players we were no different.
"We know we can compete with anyone in the competition. We know if we can go out there and compete as hard as we can, we know we can challenge the better sides."
