The Western Bulldogs are improving “bit by bit” Senior Coach Brendan McCartney says, after his young team pushed yet another premiership contender to the brink of defeat in consecutive weeks.  

Less than three goals separated the Bulldogs and Hawthorn at the final change on Saturday and while the home side took control of the match early in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs kept coming, but fell short by 19 points at the siren. 

The performance backs up the Dogs positive showing against Essendon in round 16, where they came within 11 points in the final term and exhibited a strong brand of defensive football, albeit losing by 31 points in the end.

“I think we are seeing some improvements in some of the areas of the game that we got criticized for, but just as much we knew we weren’t up to scratch in them too,” McCartney said.

“We keep working away with them.”

McCartney has been impressed with the increased responsibility taken on by the Bulldogs’ young brigade, a skill absorbed from senior players this season.

“We are seeing some very progressive steps with our young players,” he said.

“Our senior more experienced players, they are showing the quality of person they are with just how competitive they want to be and how hard they want to win.”

Facing five of the top eight teams in the past seven rounds, McCartney said the eight day turnaround will provide some respite for his young side, before lining up against West Coast on Sunday.

“We’ve soaked up a couple of solid, hard games and we get an eight day break now,” he said.