Star midfielder Jack Macrae believes the Western Bulldogs can have a big impact in the second half of 2019. 

The Bulldogs sit two games outside the top eight after a nine-point loss to second-placed Collingwood on Sunday, and face a big test against seventh-placed Port Adelaide on Saturday night at Adelaide Oval. 

“There’s a lot of positives to take away (from the Collingwood game), but obviously we don’t come away with the four points,” Macrae told media at VU Whitten Oval today.

“A lot of areas we thought we did really well against a quality opposition, but in saying that, it is frustrating (we couldn’t win) and we were right in the hunt until the very end.”

Macrae said there had been ‘frustration’ around not getting the results they were after so far this season.

The Bulldogs have been competitive in most games they’ve played.

But tidying up the delivery going inside 50, and the finishing in front of goal will help convert more of those competitive performances into wins according to Macrae.

Saturday night looms as a crucial game for the Bulldogs’ 2019 campaign – if they win, they could find themselves just four points outside the top eight. 

“It is frustrating at times,” Macrae said. 

“But at the same time we’re playing a great brand of footy, that we know when we’re doing it well and cleaning up those other areas, it’s a really strong brand and stacks up against the better teams in the competition. 

“Obviously we’re extremely determined to go over to Port Adelaide and try to get the win. We’re still reviewing the Collingwood game, and hopefully we take a few of those things that we did really well into the Port game. 

“But they’re a very formidable opposition – they just beat Geelong on the weekend – so we’re going to have to be at our best to win over there.” 

Macrae said there had been positives despite results not going to play, praising the likes of Pat Lipinski, Josh Schache and Tim English for their performances at AFL level. 

“We’ve got a very young team,” he said. 

“You saw Patty Lipinski the last two weeks, he’s really come on in leaps and bounds, and Josh Schache on the weekend came back into the team and kicked three goals.

“Timmy’s done a terrific job. He’s so young and he’s got so much promise, you can just tell he’s going to be a terrific player when he matures a bit.

“We’re being really positive with Tim. His ruck craft and the work he’s put in is terrific as well. 

“These kind of guys starting to string together consistent performances, that’s when the whole team’s going to move forward.”