Bulldogs on revenge mission
Western Bulldogs midfielder Jack Macrae will play his first game of the year against West Coast as coach Luke Beveridge admitted last year’s horror round 22 loss to the Eagles “left a pretty bad taste” and he expected a reaction this week.
The Bulldogs had their finals hoped ended in a devastating seven-point loss at Marvel Stadium and more than 200 days later Beveridge said his players would still be feeling a “stigma” about it.
As he declared captain Marcus Bontempelli was more likely to play than not after rolling his ankle in last week’s win over the Suns, Beveridge said reflecting on the match last year was not part of his planning for Sunday’s showdown, but there was something more at stake for those who endured last year’s defeat.
“As much as you try and move on and focus on what’s up ahead, it left a pretty bad taste in everyone’s mouth,” he said. “We lowered our colours in an important game. In preparation for this game, we haven’t even talked about it. I just know it’s in the players’ subconscious. The vast majority of the team picked … they’ll be feeling there is a stigma attached to what happened last year. I think there will be some kind of response there.”
Beveridge said it was impossible to ignore Macrae, who had been overlooked for the opening two games of the season, after he gathered a massive 46 disposals in the VFL last week.
He said the three-time AllAustralian, who was squeezed out of the Bulldogs’ midfield last season would be back on ball against the Eagles.