TWICE this season, the fortunes of Brennan Stack and Robert Murphy have taken completely opposite paths.

In round 11, Murphy was sitting out his third straight game owing to a hamstring problem.

The Dogs were keen to bring in another forward option to compensate. After nearly two and a half years on the club's list, Stack was finally that option.

However, a goalless and unpressured game against Richmond – and the subsequent return of Murphy – saw Stack bounced back to the VFL the following week, with the instruction to work on his defensive efforts.

So when Murphy suffered another hamstring strain against St Kilda in round 17 and Stack was called up again, he wasn't going to let that opportunity go unnoticed. 

"I didn't know I was going to kick four goals [against Fremantle], but I just made sure I did the basics and I'm looking forward to playing again this week," Stack told westernbulldogs.com.au.

"The coaches were pretty happy with my intent to chase and tackle as well. They really need me to do that more than kick goals.

"Goals are just a reward for that. I'm pretty much in the side to do what Josh Hill is doing.

"Hopefully I can keep my spot for the other games this year as well."

Stack said he knew exactly what he had to work on when he was demoted after his round 11 debut, after a discussion with forward coach Paul Williams.

"Basically I was told to go back and work on my defensive pressure, because I knew that was the reason I didn't stay in the side," he explained.

"There were two big names coming back so I knew I was going to go back.

"Then I listened to Paul because he really wanted me to chase and tackle, and that was the main thing I got out of it."

Stack, 21, says he tries to model with game on Murphy's, considering the 10-year Bulldog has a similar frame to his 184cm/80kg shape.

He said he had also begun to take advice from the Dogs' most experienced pair of goal-kickers in Brad Johnson and Jason Akermanis. 

"I try to watch Johnno and Aker as well, but Murph is a big one for me to watch," he said.

"I've also had a lot to do with Jarrod Harbrow and Wayde Skipper, as they're the biggest ones that have helped me out along my journey.

"Because I play in a different position to them now, I mainly look to Aker to Johnno."

Stack moved to Melbourne from Belmont, Perth, after the draft of 2006.

He said the increasing size of the Bulldogs' group of indigenous players that now includes himself, Harbrow, Hill, Malcolm Lynch and Liam Jones had eased the pain of homesickness.

He also spoke of the strong bonds he maintains with some of the league's other West Australian players.

"Harbrow, Hill and Malcolm live together, so I go around there for dinner and to visit them," he said.

"I'm good mates with [Essendon's] Paddy Ryder, and a few of the other indigenous boys.

"I played junior footy with Chris Mayne from Fremantle. It was pretty good getting to play against him on the weekend."

Stack himself lives with fellow West Australian and Collingwood forward Brad Dick, who he played against in the WAFL before they were both drafted.

He said the conversation between him and his housemate in their Spotswood home often had to be censored.

"We have to keep secrets because we've from different teams. We always give it to each other a bit, though," he said.

"We don't talk much about the teams, or about football. We just act like normal friends.

"But there will be a bit of a rivalry in a few weeks when our teams play in round 22."