“This will probably be the headline, won’t it? We’ll give ourselves every chance.”
Luke Beveridge is confident the Western Bulldogs can take it right up to Collingwood on Sunday afternoon.
The sides’ earlier clash this season – where the Bulldogs were right in the contest until the Magpies kicked away in the final minutes – provides Beveridge’s charges with plenty of confidence.
“We were right in there early in the last quarter and then it seemed like they overpowered us a little bit in that last quarter,” Beveridge said.
“I suppose Collingwood have done that to a number of sides this year.
“It’s happened to us against various opposition.
“We definitely tactically last time (against Collingwood) went in with a different plan, and it seemed to suit us and maybe stifle some of the things they like to do.
“So we’ll go in with a good plan, it’ll probably be different. It will suit our personnel (and) their personnel’s a little bit different this time.”
Beveridge acknowledges this is a big match for the Dogs.
They’re all big – but win, and the Bulldogs move to a 6-7 record for the season. Lose, and it becomes 5-8, with an uphill battle to stay in finals contention.
“When you’re behind the eight-ball a bit, you’re always hoping and wishing you were further ahead of it,” Beveridge said.
“To even up the ledger and get closer to being 50-50, you’ve got to keep winning games.
“In the scheme of things – they’re all important – but the further and further behind you start to drop, obviously the less chance you are of being there at the end of the year.”
