No excuses ... Doggies have lost their bite

WE called it a premiership hangover. When the Western Bulldogs slid down the ladder last year on the back of a flag, we all gave them a season’s grace to work it out.

But the excuses about complacency and being hard hit by injuries doesn’t wash anymore.

Forget the 2016 flag, the footy the Dogs have dished up over the first fortnight has been junk.

Thank goodness for West Coast jack-in-the-box Liam Ryan, whose continual attempts to take mark of the year yesterday not only helped lighten the mood, the matureage WAFL star showed he can make an instant mark at AFL level after 73 majors in the state league last year.

He reeled in a screamer on top of Jack Darling in the second term and added to the highlight reel after halftime with a right-foot checkside goal on the run.

But the Eagles weren’t the story in the 51-point win at Etihad Stadium.

It was the slump-shouldered blokes in red, white and blue after a second-straight thrashing.

Naturally, we all thought the Western Bulldogs’ snarl would return in some form this season, but the cold-hard reality is their start to the year has been putrid.

And their headaches need more than a Berocca and a good night’s sleep.

We’ve said it a bit, but yesterday there was again none of the manic intensity, desperate defensive pressure or thirst for the contest that was the hall- mark of their play two years ago. Now, they are just a soft side, the Dogs.

A nice side. An average side, at best.

They deadset looked spiritless at Etihad Stadium.

After an 82-point shellacking from Greater Western Sydney last week, the Dogs produced arguably their most dismal first-half performance in Luke Beveridge’s three and a bit-year reign as coach.

And if Beveridge gave them a cook at halftime, it barely worked as the Dogs managed only another 11 tackles in the third term.

All we want is to see some effort, at least.

So let’s draw a line on the 2016 flag, now.

Yes, it’s been a dramatic drop-off, but the premiership is no longer a relevant reference point, they are so far off that level.