Heavily publicised has been the Western Bulldogs spread of players this season.

The Dogs have used 40 players on their list, the second-most of any side in the competition behind Essendon and Gold Coast.

Mitch Honeychurch is one of those players, playing the opening seven rounds of the season and earning a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination in round two.

Honeychurch succumbed to a minor injury, returned through the final and got his chance again in round 14 before again succumbing to injury.

He’s since returned via Footscray and on the weekend return to the AFL side for his ninth game of the season.

Honeychurch said that the coach’s tendency to bring new players into the side has created a competitive nature among the group, confident in the knowledge that if they perform well at VFL level, they will get their chance.

“There’s a huge competitiveness, 40 players have been used on the list, and I don’t think that’s happened in a while,” said Honeychurch on Monday night, speaking with Crocmedia’s Sportsday radio program.

“Everyone’s hungry to play, even in the VFL it showed on the weekend we had a good win, all the boys are playing well.”

While Beveridge isn’t afraid to give players opportunities, Honeychurch says he is also creating a game style where no player is left behind.

“There’s obviously a lot of pressure on the spots, we’re playing a game style at the moment where no one is ever out of the game.

“We’re an 18-man defence and everyone does their job and then everyone gets on the end of a few kicks as well which is great.

“It’s really exciting that a lot of VFL players are playing well and putting pressure on the AFL guys, it’s a good feeling around the club at the moment.”