Luke Beveridge addressed the media ahead of Sunday's game against the Bombers, and westernbulldogs.com.au has taken out the four key takeaways.
1. The focus on the track has been...
Beveridge said that there hasn't been a lot different this week, but there has been some focus this week on the things that the team hasn't quite gotten right yet.
"You've seen us play over the last couple of weeks, (and) there are areas of the game we're being outplayed in. It's around all three phases really, whether it's at the stoppage or us defending as a group.
"I said at the end of last week's game that at times we used the ball better, especially in the second half last week, so we can draw off of that going into this weekend,
"But we've tinkered with some things in regard to our team defence. We feel like we've been opened up a few too many times in the last couple of weeks, so hopefully, we'll see some improvement there.
"And it'll be nice to think we can win that midfield battle and give our 22 a chance to get some real momentum on the scoreboard."
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2. The inclusions
Mitch Wallis, Tory Dickson, and Jack Redpath are all back in the side this week, and Beveridge talks through what he hopes they can add to the group.
"Tory has been really important for us as that threat forward and a little bit of wing, and Mitch has found his way back.
"It's been a tough journey coming back from that broken leg and although his early form when he came back last year was pretty good, that consistency wasn't quite there, so he's been applying himself at the lower level and he gets his chance.
"Big Red has had a tough time for something that, if it happened now, he'd probably just get a fine (but) he's ended up missing four games.
"He's kept it together and we're looking to him to provide some serious forward line opportunities for us tomorrow, and he's in good spirits."
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3. What Tom Boyd needs to do to get back to the top level
The young big man has been named as an emergency this week. Beveridge explains where he's at in his development and what he needs to do to make the 22.
"He's a really important part of our future but we just need him to play well at the lower level and find his mojo as a forward and contribute in other areas.
"There have been some good signs but even early in last week's game he copped a knock and it incapacitated him for the rest of his day, he played, but he wasn't quite where he needed to be.
"Now's not an ideal time for Tom to come in when he's not playing so well and we're not as a group so we'll find the right time and hopefully that's over the course of the next few weeks."
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4. The external noise
Despite a lean start to the season, the group remains close and united according to the coach.
"I couldn't be happier with how our people get on and our work environment, but when you're not playing well you bring scrutiny from outside that we've just got to own up to and get better.
"When you're not going so well you look around for signs of fractures and people leaving the reservation and I've never seen that... I can hand on heart say that everyone's still really focused and drawn together to achieve something together and time will tell how quickly we can pull ourselves out of it.
"The players know I've got their back and are fully supportive of what they're doing."
