westernbulldogs.com.au identifies the key takeaways from Senior Coach Luke Beveridge's press conference ahead of Saturday's clash with St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.
Roarke’s return
Roarke Smith will play this week after he and teammate Kieran Collins were involved in a minor car accident last week, though the pair were shaken up by the collision.
“Obviously everyone's immediate concern is for his welfare, but he's fine. And Kieran Collins is good as well and he'll play at VFL level.
“I think that was the main thing, it rattled them a little bit.
“They were probably fortunate that the other car hit them where it did. If it had of been against one of their doors then they would have been in strife. Unlucky but lucky.”
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Marcus Adams’ injury
Adams emerged from last weekend’s game against Port Adelaide with a shoulder complaint and will miss Saturday’s game against the Saints.
“It's nothing major he's just got a little bit of a weakness there and some soreness.
“He was just a bit uncomfortable yesterday at training and didn't present like he was going to be able to perform at his best tomorrow so we pulled him out. “
“He should be ok.”
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Encouraging words for Tory Dickson
Dickson returns this week after battling hamstring problems for most of the season. Beveridge was clear in stating he’d like the 30-year-old to play next year.
“We put him through all of the tests as far as the speed goes and he's been training with us with the group for the last couple of weeks.
“There's always that possibility (of re-injury) because he's done it twice in game which is a bit unusual for our players, we haven't lost too many in game through soft tissue.
“We want Tory to go on and hopefully he can play well in the last handful of games and we want to give him that opportunity, so it's important we get him back as soon as possible.”
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Optimistic for 2019
Beveridge is confident the Dogs can come again soon.
“I'm always optimistic. I think the lads have been able to show that the plans we go in with have worked for a period of time when we've been able to match it with the energy and the output.
“I know they believe in what we're trying to achieve but all it takes is to add a little bit more power, a little bit more speed in our legs and making sure we train accordingly and getting ourselves ready for the competition next year and we'll able to do it better for longer.
“(I’m) optimistic that we can remerge hopefully sooner rather than later.”
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Coaching panel
Assistant coaches are always a topic of conversation this time of the year and Beveridge expressed full confidence in his existing group.
“I couldn't be happier with our coaches.
“Our coaches are the same panel that helped us win the 2016 flag, they've been enormous support for me and great contributors in their areas. At the moment the horse has slightly gone out from under us but we know that once we bring that horse back in underneath us as a coaching group then we'll be right to go.
“As I said earlier on hopefully that will happen in the immediate future rather than too far down the track, but they've been enormous and definitely wanted.”
