Luke Beveridge addressed the media following his team's win over Gold Coast, and westernbulldogs.com.au lists the six key takeaways from his press conference.
Leadership in the absence of Wood and Bontempelli
With Easton Wood ruled out earlier in the week and Bontempelli a late withdrawal, Lachie Hunter was acting captain on Saturday afternoon. Beveridge discusses that, and the role of others outside the recognised leadership group stepping up.
“We only had two left in our nominated leadership group, so it was a flip of the coin whether or not Lachie or JJ (Jason Johannisen) flipped the coin and Lachie got the nod today.
“They’re influential people around our football club, so it wasn’t hard in that regard, but as I mentioned earlier, guys like Jack Macrae, Toby (McLean), and even CD (Caleb Daniel), Caleb had a big last quarter, you’re asking those guys to step up and lead by example, and they did that.
“Whether or not Easton and Marcus are available this week, I don’t know, but JJ, he’ll lead us out next week if they don’t.”
-
Why Marcus missed
Beveridge provides the background to Bontempelli’s late withdrawal from the side, and talks about how close he was to playing.
“Pretty close. He trained Thursday in our session, although modified, but he got through, but Friday he just didn’t present.
“Marcus wants to play every week and when he’s telling you it might be a bit tough.. we pulled the right lever there and pulled him out.“
"We knew yesterday that he wasn't playing (but) when you consider the time that the opposition would put in to thinking about our team and what Marcus is doing, it's better that the opposition don't know until they get the team sheet."
-
But will he play next week..
Asked the obvious follow up, Beveridge said they wouldn’t know until late next week whether he’ll be available to face the Lions.
“Maybe. He had a bit of treatment yesterday and he’s reported in today that he’s feeling pretty good from that, so he’s a chance.
“I think we’ll need to go to the Thursday. If he trains on Thursday, he’ll play.”
-
On Jack Macrae’s game
Macrae was the runaway pick for best on ground on Saturday, recording his second straight 40 possession game at Mars Stadium. Beveridge talks about the evolution of his game.
“He hasn’t always had the best starts to years over his career but we feel like he’s had a pretty solid start to this one. Now he’s getting tagged and he got tagged again today but he found time to play the team game and make sure we got some freedom around the stoppage and by doing that he freed himself up.
“So he’s learning to work through that and it was another influential game from him. So, I think he has (stepped his game up). The defensive parts of his game continue to improve and he set a really good example today.”
-
Aaron Naughton keeps on keeping on
Speaking of evolving games, 18-year-old first year defender continues to evolve and improve.
“It’s a big ask for the younger fellas to influence the results week to week, and he keeps presenting.
“Even when he got that big hit when we had that horrendous game over in the west, most wouldn’t come back from that, yet here’s this 18-year-old kid who’s just tough and hard really believes in himself.
“We’re fortunate to have him and he’s had a great start to his career.”
-
Feeling at home in Ballarat
The crowd was nothing if not vocal, and Beveridge talked about the team being welcomed into the Ballarat community.
“We know we’ve got a lot of support in Ballarat and around the peripheral areas. It’s a difficult one, the scheduling of today’s game competes with the local leagues, so there’s a lot of players playing for their own clubs, and a lot of families who are watching their boys at their own local clubs.
“So I think we had a good following, and a lot of Bulldogs people came to Ballarat from Melbourne and I said, a lot of Ballarat people were here. So, we feel the love.”
