Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is backing his in-form defence to curtail the influence of match-winner Toby Greene in Saturday’s grudge match in opposition to GWS.
Greene booted seven targets in his most up-to-date outing in opposition to the Bulldogs final yr and enters Saturday night time’s conflict at Manuka Oval in sizzling type having booted the match-winning objective in final week’s one-point win over Sydney.
The 29-year-old is considered as a villain amongst Bulldogs followers after being charged with eye gouging Marcus Bontempelli within the 2019 elimination ultimate.
He was later cleared of that cost on the AFL Tribunal, as a substitute being fined for the lesser offence of vigorously rubbing the face and pulling the hair of Bontempelli.
Nevertheless tensions have remained heightened any time Greene comes up in opposition to the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs have conceded a median of simply 68 factors throughout the previous three weeks and Beveridge is assured of constant that sturdy defensive type this week.
But he is nicely conscious of the distinctive problem of halting the affect of Greene.
“Even when we beat them at their home ground prior to the game at Marvel last year he (Greene) kicked seven against us,” Beveridge advised reporters on Thursday.
“We had some prolific forwards that day – (Aaron) Naughton and Cody (Weightman) both kicked five each.
“But we allowed GWS to attain too simply. We weren’t anyplace close to as efficient as we would have liked to be as a defensive unit and system.
“Toby Greene is a phenomenal player and we need to make sure we curtail him.
“I completely again in our again seven particularly after their contributions over the previous couple of weeks.
“We’re in good order and he’ll be a real challenge and handful for us, but so will be some of their other forwards.”
The Bulldogs and GWS have constructed up a robust rivalry, first sparked by the epic 2016 preliminary ultimate gained by the Bulldogs by six factors, and spiteful clashes between the groups in 2019.
Trades of Callan Ward (Bulldogs to GWS), Ryan Griffen (Bulldogs to GWS) and Tom Boyd (GWS to the Bulldogs) have added to the spice.
First-year GWS coach Adam Kingsley talked up the rivalry in opposition to the Bulldogs this week, and Beveridge acknowledged the historical past.
The Bulldogs have gained 4 straight in opposition to GWS.
“There’s been some great history there, some stimulus for rivalry absolutely,” Beveridge mentioned.
“They’ve been quite impressive with some of their wins but also their close games as well.
“I assumed their win in opposition to Adelaide within the warmth once they did not have a bench they usually had two or three guys cramping on the bottom, I assumed it was an outstanding win for them.
“And a significant sign they are playing for each other.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
