Luke Beveridge addressed the media ahead of the team's clash with Brisbane on Saturday, and westernbulldogs.com.au lists the five key takeaways from his press conference.
On Marcus Bontempelli’s fitness
Bontemeplli missed last week’s game against the Gold Coast due to a hip complaint. Beveridge gives an update on the likelihood of him facing the Lions.
“He had a bit of a run around yesterday. We'll see how he goes Thursday. He's a chance. Belly (medical services manager Chris Bell) said yesterday we'll see how he goes and we'll pick him if he comes up on Thursday.
“But he got through training last week and then was sore afterwards and we gave him until early morning Friday to let us know. We won't go that far, we just won't pick him if he can't train Thursday.”
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The legend of Dale Morris
Morris was cleared to resume full training this week after damaging his ACL in February as his ability to recover from injury becomes ‘folklore’,
“I've only been here five minutes when you consider his career. It’s sort of like folklore with him. He's had a lot of injury and setbacks over the journey and he's still played a lot of footy.
“Just to see his shape, he's got a great physique, and how hard he's worked this time around again in his layoff.
“I think the good thing with his injury is that he's been able to stay active and run and probably hasn't used the footy's as much as he would like yet, but over the course of the next two weeks we'll ramp that up.”
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On Jack Macrae’s good form
The 23-year-old has been the talk of the town this week after his second consecutive 40 possession game in Ballarat.
“What we're seeing from Jack is the influence he can have in games and we've always thought he can do that, and there has been games in the past where he has been extremely influential.”
“I said to him yesterday that he played many good games since I've been coach but I think the weekend was one of his best. it was just so well rounded.”
“It wasn't just the quality and significance of his involvement offensively with the ball but his defensive work, his hardness around the ball, and his willingness to run and help out the backline as well at times was first rate.”
“He just covered the whole of the oval and when you consider he was being tagged by Touk Miller, he did an outstanding job for the team.“
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The plan for Dayne Zorko
Brisbane’s Dayne Zorko had 34 disposals to go with 10 tackles on the weekend and Beveridge was asked whether he might tag him on the weekend.
“We'll give it some serious thought. Obviously I really liked Dane Beams' game as well; they've got some prime movers who you need to keep an eye on. We've probably gone more that way week to week considering our mix and our makeup.
“So we'll definitely consider it. It was a fascinating game, it was a shootout, it was a good one to watch.”
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On Toby McLean
Along with Jack Macrae, McLean has been one of the Bulldogs’ best this season.
“He's played some good ones, but it's definitely up there when you throw in the 13 tackles with the quantity and quality of his other involvements.
“With Marcus (Bontempelli) going out he took on a bit more responsibility as an inside mid. It was a really important game for us and he was influential. Him and Jacko (Macrae), and Lachie Hunter.
“The three of them around he footy were sensational.”
