Hangover’s not an issue for Bulldogs
AFL DO not try to tell Mitch Wallis the Western Bulldogs are suffering a premiership hangover.
With less than a month to go until Wallis and his Doggies teammates land in the Far North to tackle the Gold Coast, the 24-year-old is not a believer of the notion his club is suffering after tasting the ultimate in 2016.
The father-son product missed the grand final triumph after breaking his leg in a sickening episode at Etihad Stadium in Round 18 of last season, only weeks after last playing in Cairns.
He missed the first portion of 2017 but has returned in scintillating form, averaging 24 touches, 14 of which are contested, to go with five clearances and four tackles a game, after the broken leg.
Wallis and a number of other regular Bulldogs, including Jack Redpath, skipper Rob Murphy, Lin Jong and Stewart Crameri, missed out on the premiership breakthrough and he believes they are driving the group for more success.
“It is disappointing to hear (premiership hangover) used sometimes as a player that missed out on all the glory of the premiership month last year,” Wallis said.
“We have not wavered in our application to want to win games from our momentum from last year. It just is a couple of things are not clicking.
“We have not played up to the standard that we wanted too, comparing to last year’s performance.
“We showed against North Melbourne last week we have our dare and our dash back.
“We proved you just need to be playing well at the right end of the year to win the flag.”
Wallis, who is studying to be an accountant outside of his time at the footy club, says the Bulldogs always enjoy coming to Cairns once a year.
“We love coming up there, it is a really good point in the season for us,” Wallis said.
“We try and get up a couple of days earlier and enjoy the sunshine and do a few bonding things as a team.
“The boys always pencil it in their diaries. I can’t wait to get up there in a few weeks.”
The Western Bulldogs take on the Gold Coast Suns at Cazalys Stadium on July 22.
WE HAVE NOT PLAYED UP TO THE STANDARD THAT WE WANTED TOO, COMPARING TO LAST YEAR’S PERFORMANCE