Despite a narrow defeat to the Gold Coast Suns, emerging defender Aaron Naughton says there were plenty of positives for the Western Bulldogs in their first JLT Community Series hit-out.
It was the Dogs’ first match against opposition, after a pre-season full of intra-club match simulation.
“Definitely – it goes up to the next level,” Naughton told westernbulldogs.com.au, after facing the Suns in Mackay on Sunday night.
“The competitiveness and the physicality definitely goes to another level.
“Obviously it’s not the result that we wanted, but a good step forward to the season.”
The Dogs won the battle in most key areas in slippery conditions, including disposals (415 – 355), clearances (46 – 39), inside 50s (58 – 48) and tackles (72 – 56), but fell five points short on the scoreboard.
Naughton was among the Dogs’ best performers, with the second-year player picking up from where he left on in an impressive debut season, collecting 17 disposals and eight marks in defence.
He believes it’s just a matter of fine-tuning a few things over the next few weeks, ahead of round one.
“Probably just our lack of polish going inside 50,” Naughton said.
“We had a lot of good opportunities and ball movement, and just couldn’t really find that final connection and finish on goal.
“The positives are there, and it’s just continuing to work (on it). That’ll come over the next couple of weeks.”
