Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has dominated out utilizing main goal-kicker Aaron Naughton to bolster an injury-hit defence after his facet’s AFL bye.
Naughton was shifted again for the second half of Sunday’s 21-point win – 15.15 (105) to 13.6 (84) – over North Melbourne, with Liam Jones (fractured arm) and Tim O’Brien (hamstring) out of the sport.
But Beveridge will maintain Naughton because the spearhead in assault when the Dogs host Fremantle in spherical 16, as an alternative calling on his reserves to step up in defence.
“If we didn’t have anyone else on our list who could possibly play there then, yeah, you’d have to consider it, absolutely,” Beveridge mentioned.
“But even yesterday James O’Donnell, Josh Bruce and Ryan Gardner were all pretty solid in Footscray’s (VFL) win over Williamstown.
“There are some boys there that may are available in and play these essential roles.
“As much as they weren’t necessarily at their best the week before, they’re still there, and Aaron’s really important for us forward.”
Earlier this month, Beveridge bristled at a suggestion from Fox Footy analyst David King that Naughton ought to be switched completely to defence to spice up the Bulldogs’ premiership credentials.
The 195cm goal, who was drafted as a key defender, has kicked 26 targets in 14 video games this season after main the Dogs’ goal-kicking final yr.
Wingman Bailey Williams was additionally used to plug a gap on the again towards North Melbourne after Jones and O’Brien sustained accidents in the course of the first half.
Jones was harm within the opening levels when he obtained an unintended kick from the Kangaroos’ Paul Curtis whereas making an attempt to collect a free ball.
He was taken to hospital, the place scans confirmed a fractured radius in his left forearm.
“He’ll have it plated … and I don’t know how long he’s out, but he’ll be out for a while,” Beveridge mentioned.
Jones and O’Brien be part of fellow backmen Jason Johannisen and Ed Richards (each hamstring) on the harm record, whereas versatile younger tall Sam Darcy (jaw) can also be out of motion.
The Bulldogs’ win snapped a three-match shedding skid and improved their report to 8-6, guaranteeing they may stay inside the highest eight by means of the final of the bye rounds.
Beveridge conceded his facet is “just a margin off” one of the best groups within the competitors however has excessive hopes for the business finish of the season.
“You can bridge those gaps,” Beveridge mentioned.
“You do need a little bit of good fortune with your personnel and your injury toll, but we’ve got to do things a bit better than what we have consistently to threaten.
“At least we have given ourselves a glance.
“We’re sort of in there in that lower part of the eight and it’s our objective in our last nine games to see if we can nip at the heels of the more established sides at the top end and see what we can do.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
