The Footscray Bulldogs will continue to focus on starting matches strongly, according to Coach Chris Maple and co-captain Lukas Markovic.

Speaking after last week's Bendigo Gold match, Maple and Markovic hailed the Bulldogs' fast start as a key factor in the 166-point victory.

“I think the boys performed really well right from the get-go which is important. We made a big emphasis to start well because last week we weren’t good in that area”, Markovic said.

“[A] nine-goal first quarter… that’s going to set the scene for any game”.

After poor first quarters in the previous two weeks, Coach Chris Maple attributed last week’s first-quarter dominance to his players’ careful preparation.

“They came really well prepared. We were off a five-day break; we hadn’t really raised that at all with them all week and they came and did a great job”, Maple said.

“Obviously the recovery [from the previous match] was crucial. Look, we were disappointed with our last two performances at the VFL level, we had a few little things that we needed to sort out and address and the boys did that”.

Focus was evident from the opening bounce with the Bulldogs burrowing into contests and taking control of the stoppages. Clever-decision making and clinical skills ensured the Dogs’ intensity was rewarded on the scoreboard.

But the Bulldogs were after more than just a start, as Markovic explained.

“We lost a little bit of composure in the first five minutes of the second quarter and they had a little bit of a run-on so for us to wrestle that back was really pleasing as well so from there wecontrolled the game”, he said.

“Another focus of ours was just for everyone to play their role and to be selfless… everyone did that.

“We asked for a four-quarter effort so it was a really pleasing win”.

Footscray will hope to replicate last week's efforts against the North Ballarat Roosters this Sunday at Eureka Stadium.