Fremantle’s strong defensive efforts won great respect from Western Bulldogs senior coach Brendan McCartney on Saturday, in what was deemed another step forward for the developing Dogs’ lineup.

“We played a very good footy team today, who defended a lot better than we did,” McCartney said.

“We were way too easy to play against in that area today as a Club, but in other areas of the game it was another really good step in the right direction against a professional, mature, disciplined footy team.”

The Bulldogs coach is known to place a high premium on team defence and has spent much of the pre-season reinforcing its value to the team.

Former Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney backed his coach, claiming a defensive mentality and cleaner ball use will put the Bulldogs in good stead in the future.

“The teams that defend well are the teams that win the majority of their games, so we certainly want to be a club that values defence and a club that uses the ball well going forward,” Cooney said.

McCartney said the Club is not buying into the external expectations and instead believes the Bulldogs are further along in their rebuild than people expect.

The Bulldogs ability to claw back a 49 point margin in the third quarter to 28 points – as well as winning two quarters of football – shows the side is maturing.

“We believe we are a fair way further down the path in those areas than people gave us credit for, and today was another reminder that we have to keep progressing really quickly,” McCartney said.

“We are probably six months older… and a little fitter and stronger and able to do it.”