Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says a spread of contributors up forward should help his side combat Collingwood this Friday night.
The Bulldogs will be forced into a number of changes for the clash, having lost Aaron Naughton, Anthony Scott and Ed Richards to injury against Sydney.
Beveridge said despite what will be a different midfield blend, he believes the team is capable of challenging.
“We have to strike a blend that challenges Collingwood's inside mid brigade. Obviously, they've got one or two out of there as well, so it'll be an interesting part of the game,” he told media on Wednesday.
“(Collingwood) has got a great energy and a great connection, so it's no surprise to us that they're coping again with a pretty significant injury toll. We’re starting to feel that as well.
“We we're probably one of the clubs earlier in the year who didn't have too many players out on the sidelines, but now we're experiencing some of that.
“It’s both clubs’ challenge to weather a bit of a storm and play your best footy with players who are getting new opportunities and new roles, and trying to establish some chemistry with handfuls of boys coming in and out of the side.”
Beveridge also suggested that while there’s a chance skipper Marcus Bontempelli could spend some time forward, it won’t be for prolonged periods.
“To beat the Pies, we're going to need probably nine or ten goal-kickers at least. We’ll encourage (Jamarra and Sam) to share the ball and find a way through as I said, a different blend.
“Maybe one or two might kick multiples, but ultimately we need to make sure we get a few out of a spread.
“It’s not the time to be probably (sending Marcus forward) permanently, with the depth of our midfield being tested, but I think over Marcus' journey and maybe later in his career, whether that becomes something that he does more often than he does week-to-week now, possibly.
“It’s all about striking a blend. He still goes forward at times and we have different blend through that midfield - all that will still be important Friday night.
“He’ll find himself forward and we'll instigate that at different times...it was a definite ‘play forward for a quarter’ approach last Thursday, so that’s unlikely to happen at the start of this game on Friday night.”
