Tough tactics making of Dog

WESTERN Bulldogs speedster Jason Johanissen will emerge stronger from the physical battering he has received for much of the past six weeks, according to coach Luke Beveridge.

But Beveridge does not believe there needs to be a crackdown on players physically targeting opponents.

Johanissen has had to deal with this almost weekly since Round 12 when Sydney started a trend of teams giving him close attention.

“It’s been part of our game for a long time. I don’t like the ones where players can’t see you, obviously,” the coach said.

“But the other stuff is part of the game. Do we need to stamp it right out? I don’t think so. I think the umpires are probably trying to pay a little more attention to it.

“I think it’s always going to be the way, we’ve just got to deal with it and move on. But if any player is impeded, if they’re grabbed, if they’re a fair way off the ball and their momentum is halted in any sort of way that’s illegal, then by all means pay a free kick. I’m not so sure about anything else besides the free kick, though.”

Johanissen, who signed a five-year deal with the Bulldogs last week, struggled with the tactics when first applied by Sydney and other teams continued it when it affected his form.

But Beveridge has been buoyed by the manner in which the hard-running defender has fought his way back to better performances across the past two weeks.

“I think ‘J’ has worked himself through some difficult times. I think we, as a team, needed to address it,” he said.

The Dogs will consider Travis Cloke and Tory Dickson to replace the injured Jake Stringer in Saturday’s clash with Gold Coast in Cairns.