The Bulldogs will make their first appearance for the season at the MCG on Sunday afternoon, assistant coach Daniel Giansircusa saying that the bigger ground holds no fears for the young Dogs.
The Bulldogs are scheduled to play there just twice during the home and away season, Giansircusa telling westernbulldogs.com.au that the playing group are excited to get back to the home of football.
“Yeah, the boys are excited, and Bevo touched on it earlier in the week,” he said
“If we want to go deep into September, we know we’re going to have to play at the MCG.
“We don’t get there too often, so the boys are looking forward to it.
As to whether the Dogs will have to make many adjustments playing at a ground other than Etihad Stadium, he said training at VU Whitten Oval prepares you for anything.
“We should be used to the elements outside, training at Whitten Oval.
“The last couple of weeks have been ultra-windy here, so if it does get windy Sunday afternoon we’re going to be ready for it.
“But nothing really changes, the ground’s a bit wider but we back the way we play in, and our structures and we think that will make us competitive on the night.”
Sunday’s game pits Melbourne, the number one ranked clearance side in the competition against the third-ranked Bulldogs, Giansircusa saying that the midfield battle will prove vital.
“We’re definitely aware of that, we’re going to have to negate them, he said.
“[Melbourne ruckman] Max Gawn is in fantastic form and arguably, him and (Todd) Goldstein, are the two best ruckman in the competition.
“[It’s a] a big challenge for our two guys.
“But we’re happy with the way [Jordan Roughead and Tom Campbell] are going and getting the ball forward for us, and hopefully that gives us an advantage on the MCG to make sure we kick a winning score.”
