Doggies of old hold off Bombers’ late charge

THE WESTERN Bulldogs are almost back to their “recognisable and threatening” best, coach Luke Beveridge says.

The Dogs ran out 30-point winners over Essendon yesterday, despite the Bombers getting within six points with just four minutes remaining in the game.

The win put Beveridge’s reigning premiership outfit back inside the top eight for the first time since Round 12, but the coach knows that the next month will be testing.

“Everyone in this area where you’re a bit below the top three or four teams ... if you’ve got your eyes on the eight, you can’t afford to slip up,” he said.

“We’ve had to just really focus on the next week to remind ourselves of the type of footy that we need to play to establish ourselves as a recognisable and threatening team.

“It’s great that in the recent three weeks we’ve been able to do that, but I think we play some very good sides on the run home, so it’s going to be tough.”

Beveridge said while yesterday’s victory was “a very good and encouraging performance”, he would have preferred to keep Essendon to a lower score.

It was labelled as the Bulldogs’ best showing of the season but Beveridge was hesitant to be drawn into such commentary.

“It’s hard to compare — it’s such a long time ago when we had a little bit of momentum earlier on in the year,” he said.

“Obviously we’re really pleased and happy with the performance — there’s no doubt it was a manic game and a very turnover-oriented game.

“They play a fast, slick brand of footy with a really healthy appetite, the Bombers, and sometimes it’s hard to defend when you give the ball back to them or let the ball spit out, because they go quickly.

“We just managed to do enough, in the end.”

Forward Travis Cloke made his return having not played since taking a break to deal with his mental health after Round 12. He contributed to the scoreboard and in the ruck.

It could present Beveridge with a selection quandary this week with Jack Redpath having served his one-game suspension.

“We just need him and Jack Redpath and our other big forwards to make sure they’re there when we need them and when we need help in the ruck and he gave that with Roughy,” he said of Cloke.