LUKE Beveridge hopes the fierce competition for spots at the Western Bulldogs will help him keep the lid jammed firmly on as the hype builds around this season's good news story.
 
Despite the Dogs pushing up into the top four, at least temporarily, after their 64-point dismantling of Port Adelaide, their coach isn't willing to talk finals until his side are locks for the top eight.
 
"I think until we're a mathematical certainty to play, I just won't acknowledge that we've made finals or talk about it," Beveridge said post-match.
 
"Because we've seen a lot of examples of teams that have been in position and then it just goes pear-shaped. You guard against that and that's what we're trying to do.
 
"We've got no choice but to keep the lid on it. At the point where I'm convinced that we can't drop out, I'll say 'Fantastic' and laud our players again, but we can still drop out.
 
"I suppose there's that pressure for spots too in the team that's really healthy, and that helps you.
 
"The boys today played really well, but they know that Murph (Bob Murphy) will come back into the side next week.
 
"They know that ‘Pruds’ (Josh Prudden) might. They know that there's some boys playing at VFL level that will play pretty well tomorrow. So that keeps you on the edge."
 
The Dogs have used 37 players this season, turning dire predictions about their depth after losing the likes of ex-captain Ryan Griffen, Adam Cooney and Shaun Higgins into a positive.
 
"I probably didn't fathom we could get to this point where we'd play 37 players and Sammy Darley – being the 37th – can come and play today, pick up the bit, have 24 touches, defend pretty well and look like he's played there the last two months," Beveridge said.
 
While Beveridge wouldn't be drawn on whether his side is playing a brand of football good enough to finish in the top four, their results suggest that's the case.
 
Having improved their offence by eight points per game and defence by 20, they have beaten four of the other current top-eight teams, only losing to Hawthorn, Fremantle and Geelong.
 
And their 19.14 (128) to 9.10 (64) demolition job on the Power sent another warning to their rivals.
 
After conceding the first three goals at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, the Dogs piled on nine unanswered to kill the match as a contest.
 
Beveridge was thrilled with his forward line's spread of goalkickers, with Jack Redpath (four goals), Jake Stringer (four), Tory Dickson (three) and Stewart Crameri (three) continuing their strong form together.
 
While the Dogs' run home now suggests a top four finish is a real possibility, starting with a clash with Melbourne, Beveridge said his players have learnt from the dangers of getting ahead of themselves after a stunning upset of the Sydney Swans in round five, which was followed by three-straight losses.
 
"I don't know if I did, but I think the players did," he said. "We talked a lot during those periods about what happens if we don’t get a really even contribution and if we're slightly off with one, two or three individuals – the knock-on effect for the team."