Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge expressed optimism ahead of Sunday’s match against Sydney, suggesting the team should approach the game with confidence given their recent performances. After securing consecutive victories over Carlton and Geelong, marking their first back-to-back wins since Round 9-10, Beveridge highlighted the team’s improved form.
Reflecting on their previous encounter with Sydney earlier in the season, which resulted in a loss, Beveridge acknowledged significant changes in both squads since then. He noted the impact of injuries on Sydney’s lineup, mentioning that the Bulldogs had utilized a larger roster of players compared to their opponents in recent weeks.
“Now they’re facing challenges in terms of player availability and making decisions on positions. This introduces uncertainty for us about their lineup, given recent injuries and how they’ll adjust their team.
“It’ll be a different scenario compared to our last encounter with them. We were holding up reasonably well in that game until we had two concussions and lost Naughton to a knee injury. While we don’t make excuses, it does make us wonder how things might have unfolded differently if those incidents hadn’t occurred.
“We’re hopeful for some good fortune—everyone seeks that. Luck with injuries is crucial on our journey, but we’re prepared for a tough battle.
“The potential return of Liam Jones this weekend could lift our spirits, as he’s been integral to our defensive strategy. If he’s fit and available, he’ll likely come back into the team.”
Beveridge also shared his thoughts on the reopening of Mission Whitten Oval today after more than two years of construction, describing it as a significant and special moment for the club.
“When we were training at Skinner during preseason and dealing with separation between our administration and operational areas, we were quite scattered for probably the last year and a half,” he said.
“It was somewhat of a first-world problem, but challenges like these can sometimes bring a team closer together and make them stronger. Whether it had that effect during that period, I’m not sure, but now with what we have in place… it’s really something special.”
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