Preparing to face his former side on Sunday, Koby Stevens says the West Coast Eagles’ experience on the vast expanses of Patersons Stadium will pose a test for the young Western Bulldogs’ team.
 
The 21-year-old said the Bulldogs will need to restrict the Eagles’ ball movement early to prevent them from setting up the ground on their terms.  
 
“It’s always a daunting task… just the size of the ground and the physical pressure that they can put on that ground, training it every week,” Stevens said.
 
“That will be one thing that West Coast will be looking to do, is put us under a lot of pressure and try forcing us into a handball game… and get their press up and going.
 
“If we can use the footy well enough and keep it off them it should be a good day but it is always a daunting task at Subi - but it is something we look forward to as a group.”
 
Traded to the Kennel at the end of last season, Stevens has relished a new on-field role since landing at Whitten Oval – playing across the wing, as well as stints across half forward and half back.
 
Averaging eight more disposals than last year, the versatile midfielder has become a regular in the Dogs’ starting side and is poised to play his sixth consecutive senior game this year – more than he has ever played in one season previously.
 
Stevens’ outside run will be especially important covering the familiar ground at Patersons Stadium, as both teams eye their second win of the season.  
 
While the Eagles might be an imposing unit in full-flight, Stevens said the Bulldogs’ performance against the undefeated Geelong last weekend proves they are capable of mixing it with the locals on Sunday.  
 
“They are under a bit of pressure but they are dangerous – more dangerous than anyone I think,” he said.
 
“They’ve got the core group of really experienced players and a good group of young blokes… and have been talking about stepping up in the last couple of weeks, so we’ll be expecting that.
 
“But like every week we go out looking forward to a challenge, we have a young group of blokes who love competing and we saw on the weekend at times the pressure we can put on - so if we can do that for four quarters of footy anything can happen.”