Happy memories feed giant rivalry

WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says the club’s burgeoning rivalry with Greater Western Sydney is developing into one of the most important in the AFL ahead of tonight’s game in Canberra.

In the Giants’ first Friday night fixture, the clubs will battle for the first time since last year’s preliminary final when the Bulldogs triumphed by six points to set up their historic flag win.

Asked yesterday if the Bulldogs’ rivalry with the Giants was now the club’s biggest, Beveridge said it wasn’t just important for his team, but for the competition.

“I think it has been talked about publicly, which is healthy for the game and the competition, it obviously means that GWS have made pretty good statements on field and turned into a very powerful team,’’ Beveridge said.

“And obviously we’re pretty happy to be talked about in that regard as well.

“It’s an exciting confrontation. There are many rivalries, but it’s developing as a really important one for the game, I reckon.’’ Beveridge had no doubt that his team would feed off the memories of its stunning preliminary final win in Sydney against the Giants.

“It’s pretty recent history so it’s always in the back of your mind last time you played a team,’’ Beveridge said.

While the Bulldogs have won four out of their first five games this season, Beveridge said the team still had some work to do to find its best form.

“They haven’t put four quarters of really solid football [together]. But at times the opposition haven’t let us either.”

Tonight’s match is an important milestone for Clay Smith, who has overcome the setbacks of three knee reconstructions to play his 50th game for the ‘Dogs.