Western Bulldogs veteran Daniel Giansiracusa says the entire playing group could learn a lot off Matthew Boyd’s spirited 37 disposal performance in his 200th career game against Hawthorn.
While restricted to the sidelines with a foot injury, Giansiracusa felt the loss alongside the starting 22 and believes the team don’t need to look any further than their Skipper Boyd for inspiration.
“Obviously we try to get ourselves up for milestones and we failed in that today but it was very much another Matthew Boyd performance,” Giansiracusa said.
“He never gives up and he always keeps trying and I think we can all take a leaf out of his book.
“Hopefully we will have some enjoyment for the rest of the year going forward.”
The 72 point defeat at the hands of Hawthorn was a disappointing result particularly in the third term where the Hawks were able to break the game open according to Giansiracusa.
“It was obviously disappointing, you don’t like to lose like that,” he said.
“I thought we started ok… the third quarter was pretty damning but we will look at that during the week and we have got to work on those things and try to fix them.
“We will look at the tape and go into it deeply tomorrow in the review.”
Hawthorn’s convincing win in the contested possessions stat (Hawk 155, WB 116) and around the clearances (Hawk 49, WB 28) was also a let-down for the Bulldogs.
The contested possessions and work around the stoppages have been two areas the Dogs have previously been dominating for most of Season 2012.
Despite falling in those two areas on Sunday, Giansiracusa is positive the Bulldogs can recover in the coming weeks.
“It is disappointing because it is something we have prided ourselves on is that contested ball and the clearance work,” he said.
“We know it is there - I don’t know if it is a better team or maybe it is a desire sort of thing and we have got to work on that.
“It has been a strength of ours so we can get that back pretty quick I would have thought.”
Giansiracusa will face a fitness test ahead of Saturday night’s clash with Carlton but is hopeful he will return to the senior side.
