Dogs still believe: Eade
Rodney Eade says players won't lack confidence when they take on Collingwood
THE WESTERN Bulldogs haven't enjoyed an ideal preparation for their clash against Collingwood, but coach Rodney Eade says his players won't be lacking in confidence when they take on the unbeaten premiership favourites.
The difficult task of toppling the Pies has been made harder by the Dogs' short turnaround after Monday night's loss to Fremantle in Perth that was played in energy-sapping conditions.
Adding to Eade's concerns ahead of Sunday's game at the MCG are the fitness clouds hanging over Tom Williams (back) and Shaun Higgins (general soreness), but the coach asserts his players are undaunted by the task ahead of them.
"The belief is there - I've got no problem with that," he said from Whitten Oval on Thursday.
"Even with coming back from Perth and the result there the belief has been good. I've got no doubt that the players have got the belief they can beat anyone. When you've got that mindset it's always a plus.
"We were pleased with what we did on Monday night. There are a few areas that we can improve but the effort was good. Some key indicators like contested ball were good … so that's given the guys real confidence.
"We just need to take that intensity and play it for four quarters."
Barry Hall will be absent from the Bulldogs' goal front with an ankle injury and Daniel Giansiracusa will miss another week as he recovers from a hamstring strain. Ben Hudson missed Thursday's main training session, but Eade said the ruckman had been excused in order to attend a wedding.
Eade's side was a popular pre-season pick to play off for the flag against Collingwood, but the Dogs find themselves just outside the eight with two wins and two losses heading into round six.
The coach certainly isn't looking at the big game as an opportunity to re-establish his team's premiership credentials.
"We've just got to get the four points. It doesn’t matter whether it's against Collingwood or anybody else," he said.
"Four points are gold. We missed an opportunity on Monday night … which has put us behind the eight ball a bit so we just need to get a win."
Eade will not let reputations blind his thinking at the selection table, with 100 per cent fitness valued over past performances.
The Dogs' task at match committee is made more difficult by the sore bodies still in evidence on Thursday, but Eade is adamant fitness will not be an excuse if his side becomes Collingwood's latest victim.
"We certainly won't be taking any chances with anyone," he said.
"We'll only play players who are fit - it doesn't matter who that player is. We won't be risking anyone."
The absence of Hall gives Eade the opportunity to try a few different things in his forward half and, while he will tinker, the coach said it was important the team backed its game plan to get the job done.