The Western Bulldogs are hopeful they can achieve a positive outcome at Adelaide Oval this Sunday.
The Bulldogs are yet to register a win at the venue this season, but coach Luke Beveridge says preparing the same way they have over the last month will hold them in good stead.
“We’re 0 from two, so it’d be nice to at least get a positive result (there) this year. That’ll be our intent – to go over there and put our best foot forward,” Beveridge told media on Tuesday.
“I was impressed by Adelaide against Essendon, and then they ran Geelong pretty close down at the sleepy hollow and almost should’ve won that game.
“I think Rankine is coming back this week, so when you look at their forward-line and their threats, and consider quite recently how prolific they were with how much they scored particularly early in the season, they’re extremely capable.
“We need to be totally ready for their best.”
Beveridge said the evenness of the competition, even still at this point in the run home, means his team needs to stay alert.
“We’ve only won 12, but there’s (probably four games) that we’d not rather forget, but you learn a bit from how the challenge of the competition is real...anyone can sit you on your backside so I think that’s probably the key,” he said.
“Being cats on a hot tin roof is about being really wary that that can happen in any given week. It’s why I highlight the possibility that Adelaide are that team.
“We need to be ready for them like we have been against the teams we’ve played in recent times who were above us on the ladder.”
The Bulldogs have enjoyed a triumphant month of football, defeating Carlton, Geelong, Sydney and Melbourne in successive weeks.
Beveridge said it has filled the team with confidence.
“I think there was probably a period of time where if we won a game it was because the opposition played poorly, but now I think if we win a game we’re starting to identify that we’re not such a bad team when we put our stuff together.
“There’s always uncertainty in a season, whether or not you’ve qualified. We haven’t yet, but quite naturally when you’re playing reasonable footy, your fans are adoring what some of our playing group are doing.
“You do end up with a bit of a spring in your step...you feel good about yourself and you’ve got to harness that.”
The Bulldogs will meet the Crows at Adelaide Oval on Sunday afternoon.
