A handful of competitive performances is not enough for Will Minson in 2014, with the ruckman confident the Western Bulldogs can challenge on a more consistent basis in the season ahead.

The Bulldogs late season form in 2013 showed they could compete with the league’s better sides but Minson said the next step is to maintain that momentum more consistently.

“AFL seasons are really long and there is a lot of work you have to do to be competitive throughout the whole year,” Minson said.

“Just being competitive in the last four or five games of the year won’t cut the mustard but we are definitely looking to improve on our weaknesses of last year.

“We have trained hard over summer and a new season beckons.”

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The All-Australian ruckman has thrived on the added responsibility over the past two seasons and has loved making the position his own.

While other sides often opt for rotating ruckman to lessen the load, Minson said he prefers to build momentum as the game progresses and believes he has flourished with sole ruck duties.

“It also plays to my favour with how I have been able to grind opposition players down and be on the field the whole time,” he said.

“It suits me more than going for short stints and sitting on the bench and coming back on and having to make an impact instantly.

“I quite rather being out on the field for the whole time and just trying to work my way through a game.”

Minson has also put his faith in the developing ruck stocks at the kennel in Tom Campbell and Ayce Cordy, who have shown they are both capable around the stoppages in the VFL.

“Tommy is a pretty suitable ruckman, he’s a big fella, he’s big and strong and has a decent beard at the moment – players that have had beards at the Western Bulldogs have generally done well in the ruck in previous years,” he said.

“He’s definitely a handy ruckman and he rucked quite a bit last year.

“Ayce Cordy – while his best footy probably is going to be forward – he’s still over two metres tall and I think anyone over two metres needs to be able to play in the ruck.”