THE WESTERN Bulldogs need to replicate the pressure St Kilda applied to them last weekend in order to beat Fremantle, according to midfielder Callan Ward.

Ward, 19, said the Dogs had taken plenty from their 45-point loss to the Saints last week, and in particular had received a lesson in the level of intensity required to stifle teams out of the contest.

He believes if the Dogs are able to recreate that sort of environment this weekend when they take on Fremantle at Docklands, they should be able to notch up their second win over the Western Australian side this season.

"With Freo, we know they can struggle if you apply pressure to them," Ward told afl.com.au during the week.

"We've gone over that, and I think that's going to be the main theme for us this week."

Ward said losing to the Saints had provided his team with many positives, and had given them a variety of areas to work on in the lead up to finals.

"They're fantastic with everything they try and do," Ward said. "They're just really hitting the nail on the head with the way teams should play, and executing perfectly.

"Every team is trying to be like them, because of the way they play and the pressure they apply."

He said the morale around the club directly following last Saturday night's result had been quite low, given it was the Dogs' first convincing loss since their round six loss, also to the Saints. 

However, he said things had improved throughout the week as the players worked at manipulating the negative result into a positive outcome.

"We were very disappointed after last week's game, but there were a few good things to take out of that game and where we can improve as a team, and as individuals," he said.