The Western Bulldogs have moved on from their off-season "heartache" and are implementing a more fast-paced and adventurous brand of football under new coach Luke Beveridge, captain Robert Murphy says.
In a departure from ex-coach Brendan McCartney's emphasis on winning the contested football, the Bulldogs have focused on rapid ball movement since Beveridge took the reins.
"I guess the main order (from Luke) is probably with the ball we're a little bit more adventurous," Murphy said.
"We've been playing a lot of games, so the competitiveness and balance of defence and offence has really come into sharp focus."
VIDEO: Watch Senior Coach Luke Beveridge discuss the Club's five-man leadership group and the decision process behind it.
The Dogs were split into two groups towards the end of training on Monday, with the players encouraged to pin-point targets by foot in the first game-style drill.
The squad then moved into a shorter handball exercise, with the emphasis still on quick movement down the field.
Murphy said the young squad was still adapting to the tactics from their new coach – who cut his teeth under Hawthorn's triple-premiership mentor Alastair Clarkson.
The new skipper would not be drawn on comparisons with the Hawks' precise kicking brand of football, but said thinking through transition from defence to attack was the aim.
"I think we’re moving the ball faster and I think if you asked Luke perhaps too fast at times," Murphy said.
"At the moment it's hell for leather a bit. With a young side we need to develop when to go fast and when to go slow, like all clubs at this time of year.
"There's a little bit of experimentation at the moment. Luke's getting a feel for the players we've got here and the kind of personnel.
"We're still finding out who we are, which is not a negative at all."
The Dogs parted ways with coach McCartney, former skipper Ryan Griffen and Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney – among others - during a turbulent trade period.
Murphy said the club had healed and was looking forward to a brighter future – which included seeing young power forward Tom Boyd debut in red, white and blue in 2015.
"Footy clubs and this footy team have been able to absorb a whole lot of change and that's given me a great deal of heart," Murphy said.
"Guys have moved on from the heartache from the off-season and are looking to a brighter season ahead and brighter years ahead."
Former No.1 draft pick Boyd looms as a key player in that future after he signed a seven-year deal, multi-million dollar deal as part of the Griffen trade to Greater Western Sydney.
Life at the Kennel hasn't been all smooth sailing for the 19-year-old power forward, who dislocated a finger at training earlier this month and had his appendix removed in his first week at the club.
But Boyd has impressed Roughead with his efforts on the training track in recent weeks.
"He's travelling really well at the moment, he's done a lot of work on his fitness and he's just getting out into the matchplay sort of stuff," said the key defender, whose post-season shoulder surgery will be ticked off by his surgeon tomorrow.
"You can just see by looking at Tom the sort of player he's going to be. Even if he's not sticking marks at the moment he's running to great spots and he's certainly making it hard work for us down back.
"I think he's a fantastic long-term prospect for this footy club and he's going to be a man that the club can build itself around."
