EMERGING Western Bulldogs midfielder Tom Liberatore says it is up to him and his young contemporaries to take control of the team's on-field direction as it enters its next era under a new coach.

After the Dogs' 46-point loss to Hawthorn on Saturday, caretaker coach Paul Williams said he thought the players didn't value "helping their mates" enough.

Liberatore, 19, said the players had taken notice of the situation they found themselves in after their round 21 loss to Essendon - which killed their finals aspirations and saw Rodney Eade depart the club after a decision not to extend his contract - and had started to look closely at each other in search of answers.

"We've got to demand more communication out of each other. The biggest thing is we've got to put it on us, the first, second and third year players, to really demand it as well," he told westernbulldogs.com.au after the game.

"Everyone has their own responsibility to do the best for each other rather than just leave it up to the leadership group."

Williams has been in charge for two games now and has not shied away from his intention to improve the team's defensive outlook.

Liberatore, who has played 15 senior games in his first AFL season, said the change in coach had refreshed the players' mindset.

"The biggest thing that's struck me is that he's probably a bit more flexible in regards to the way he goes about things," he said.

"Everyone is different, but his style is a bit different and he looks more to his delegates so there's not really an individual coach yet, but over the last two weeks we've kind of looked around and stuck together and looked for the right answers."

Saturday's match was essentially a dead rubber with the Dogs unable to progress above the bottom nine and the Hawks assured of a top four finish.

Still, Liberatore said the players had been just as keen for the contest, especially given it was just their second game for the season at the MCG, and first for many including Jason Tutt, Ayce Cordy, Jayden Schofield and Luke Dahlhaus.

"A lot of blokes were very excited to play today and Saturday afternoon at the MCG doesn't get much better," he said.

"It's still pretty amazing to play here, mainly because it's such a rarity."

Liberatore was one of eight players to announce contract extensions this week, along with close friend Mitch Wallis, Easton Wood, Jarrad Grant, Liam Picken, Tom Williams and Schofield.

He believes the club presents an exciting opportunity for all of the young players pushing through as the wheel turns across the next few seasons, which has already begun with the retirements of Barry Hall, Ben Hudson and Mitch Hahn.

"Over the next couple of years, we've got a lot of look forward to," he said.

"Today, we had a lot of players under 20 games so it's a great place to be."

Cordy has provided a pleasing sight for Bulldogs' fans in the past two games after finally breaking through for his AFL debut last week against Port Adelaide after being drafted in 2008.

Liberatore said he had struck up an instant friendship with the lean ruckman/defender this year, and had been happy to see him play the past two matches - the second of which he mainly played in defence on David Hale.

However, a broken hand sustained in the second quarter of the clash with the Hawks will sideline him from next week's final round meeting with Fremantle at Etihad Stadium.

"It's unlucky for him and it's a real positive that it happened in the second quarter and he played the game out with it so you get some confidence out of that," Williams said after the game.

"He'll also get some confidence out of playing two games late in the year, and that will give him a bounce for pre-season, which we're really looking forward to and fixing a few things that we need to fix."

Jennifer Witham covers Western Bulldogs news for the AFL Website. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham.