WESTERN Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney says that while his side's stirring three-goal win over finals aspirant North Melbourne hadn't exactly rubber-stamped the Dogs' new direction, it was another sign the club was on the right track.
After losing their opening three games against West Coast (by 49 points), Adelaide (18 points) and St Kilda (63 points), the Bulldogs have won three of their past four games, with the only blemish being a respectable 21-point loss to Collingwood last week.
Watch highlights of Brendan McCartney's Press Conference on the media player above or on the Club Mobile App.
The win over the Kangaroos represented the Dogs' first genuine scalp of 2012 after enjoying 'softer' victories over Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney.
Asked if his side's efforts against the Roos had provided vindication of the club's fresh approach under a new coaching regime, a typically understated McCartney watered down any hype.
"Validation's a strong word. It's only one game," he said.
"I thought we summed last week up OK - we didn't win the game because we didn't play the way we wanted for long enough, and I think today we got the result by doing it for a lot longer.
"It was a hard slog, but we got there.
"We've got a long way to go. We know we're a work in progress."
McCartney often mentions his desire for his players to take the game on and dare to dream, and he was pleased with their aggressive approach.
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"The players sometimes get frustrated that we can't take some opportunities," he said. "There's two ways to approach that - not wanting to have a crack and try your luck, or do it and maybe not do it perfectly and learn from it.
"Most of the best teams in the competition haven't just happened overnight. They've worked hard at it. You keep at it until you get to be the footy club you want to be."
Before Sunday night, the Bulldogs had averaged 11 contested marks to their opponents' 14. But they doubled their usual output, smashing the Roos 22-8 in this key statistic, with the likes of Ayce Cordy (with an equal game-high four contested marks) and Tory Dickson (three) most noticeably stepping up.
McCartney believes incremental improvements have been made most weeks.
"(With) young players it can work one of two ways: opportunities lost kills their confidence and they're reluctant to want the ball to come near them, or they’re the right sort of people (with) the right sort of character and they have the right sort of support, which (forward coach) Shannon Grant is giving them," he said.
"Today they kept jumping at it and competing. Eventually those boys (will) mark the ball in time.
"Maybe we're improving where we kick the ball too, to make it a little easier for them."
McCartney said the Bulldogs would be strengthened by the availability of forward pair Liam Jones and Nathan Djerrkura for next week's clash with Gold Coast in Darwin.
There is also a strong chance that Adam Cooney - a late withdrawal before Sunday's match - would also be passed fit.
The win over the Kangaroos represented the Dogs' first genuine scalp of 2012 after enjoying 'softer' victories over Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney.
Asked if his side's efforts against the Roos had provided vindication of the club's fresh approach under a new coaching regime, a typically understated McCartney watered down any hype.
"Validation's a strong word. It's only one game," he said.
"I thought we summed last week up OK - we didn't win the game because we didn't play the way we wanted for long enough, and I think today we got the result by doing it for a lot longer.
"It was a hard slog, but we got there.
"We've got a long way to go. We know we're a work in progress."
McCartney often mentions his desire for his players to take the game on and dare to dream, and he was pleased with their aggressive approach.
Join the Western Front, become a Western Bulldogs Member in 2012 - 3-Game Memberships from just $75 - join now.
"The players sometimes get frustrated that we can't take some opportunities," he said. "There's two ways to approach that - not wanting to have a crack and try your luck, or do it and maybe not do it perfectly and learn from it.
"Most of the best teams in the competition haven't just happened overnight. They've worked hard at it. You keep at it until you get to be the footy club you want to be."
Before Sunday night, the Bulldogs had averaged 11 contested marks to their opponents' 14. But they doubled their usual output, smashing the Roos 22-8 in this key statistic, with the likes of Ayce Cordy (with an equal game-high four contested marks) and Tory Dickson (three) most noticeably stepping up.
McCartney believes incremental improvements have been made most weeks.
"(With) young players it can work one of two ways: opportunities lost kills their confidence and they're reluctant to want the ball to come near them, or they’re the right sort of people (with) the right sort of character and they have the right sort of support, which (forward coach) Shannon Grant is giving them," he said.
"Today they kept jumping at it and competing. Eventually those boys (will) mark the ball in time.
"Maybe we're improving where we kick the ball too, to make it a little easier for them."
McCartney said the Bulldogs would be strengthened by the availability of forward pair Liam Jones and Nathan Djerrkura for next week's clash with Gold Coast in Darwin.
There is also a strong chance that Adam Cooney - a late withdrawal before Sunday's match - would also be passed fit.
