Every Word Luke Beveridge said on The Win v Gold Coast, The Midfield Battle, Cody Weightman, Caleb Daniel, and Injuries

The Western Bulldogs put aside the disappointment of a Round 1 defeat last week, recording their first win of the season against the Gold Coast Suns in Ballarat on Sunday.

A nine-goal opening term set up the win for the Bulldogs, who controlled proceedings for the rest of the afternoon before going on to win by 48 points.

Senior coach Luke Beveridge spoke to the media following the win, and was asked a series of questions on a range of topics, including how he saw the win, Cody Weightman, Caleb Daniel, Sam Darcy, Buku Khamis, and what changes the Dogs might make for next week's game against West Coast.

Question: Luke, you talked about the things that you wanted to see addressed and changed. It was a pretty comprehensive first quarter. Was that what you wanted to see?

Luke Beveridge: Yeah obviously. Yes, is the short answer to overall, but yeah, maybe after specifics there was just disconnect between most of things we were doing last week and we felt it was more we played against a pretty good side in Melbourne and they just got across the ground a bit better than us and sometimes in the space of collision game, other teams get ahold of who they're playing (and) it just felt a little bit better than us last week so all those things you know felt you know we really defended a lot better as a group and there's some exciting ball use and obviously being able to convert and during that period of time we haven't done so well in recent times when we’ve lost a player, and especially an important backman. So, when Nick Coffield went off, for Bailey Williams to go back and cover, he played a really important role and everything else remained stable, so that was good for us. Yeah, when they were coming at us and they kicked the last few at the end of the third quarter, not ideal. So it's good to be able to stabilise.

Q: You mentioned that backline obviously. The intercept game especially seemed to really work too late. Liam Jones, Buku and as so few other guys as well.

LB: Yeah, they did. They intercepted well and I think there’s no doubt we had a lot more pressure around the footy and the combat from our inside mids was quite extraordinary at times, and we knew coming in our guys really respect their midfield and whether it's Touk Miller at his absolute best or what young (Matt) Rowell’s been able to do in recent times and Noah Anderson’s such a good player and Flanders and obviously missing (Bailey) Humphreys today they had to make up for that but what the boys did out in the middle early just to give us some momentum and then at the coalface, we were was just really strong and then I thought Tim (English) and Sam (Darcy) did a really good job in the ruck.

Q: You know a lot’s been made of Gold Coast and this up-and-coming midfield in the competition. It seemed like Bont and Libba playing almost as if like they wanted to show the young pups that there’s still a bit of work to do?

LB: Yeah, they needed to and you probably throw Adam (Treloar) into that as well. And that's the danger in this competition. As soon as you think you can rely on your experience and your nous you get bitten on the bum and not (that) the boys you mention (it) that happens to very often, but last week I suppose consistently across four quarters we probably lowered our colours. And today young Ryley Sanders contributed in there, as did Harvey Gallagher and Caleb Daniel played a pretty important role in that as well.

Q: You answered a lot of questions about selection yesterday and during the week. What was it like during the week? Were you contemplating things? Were you throwing things up in the air? Or were you set with the plan you went into it with?

LB: We were pretty firm on not throwing the toys out after one disappointing experience. We felt like we had a really strong preseason. The outings against Hawthorn gave us evidence that we had and so we walked away from the MCG last week a little bit disconcerted and we didn’t want to search too far for different things because the things that we've been doing and there were a number of things coming out of last year that we've really worked on over pre-season that didn't come to the fore last week so to see some of them be more prevalent in our game today, and I thought our coaches did a terrific job with the players throughout the week, just keeping it simple, reminding them of what they're capable of and then providing clarity around what the real focus areas needed to be today and the boys were able to execute extremely well. So, we needed to get in the room and just reassure each other that that's the route we needed to take and reassure the players that no one's going to lose their heads. But it's only Round 2, we played reasonably well today. In the bigger picture we’ve still got a lot of work to do and in respect of everyone we’re going to play. So the message out there just then was enjoy the win for a moment but let's move on pretty quickly.

Q: Cody (Weightman)? Six goals, four at the start and two were at pretty pivotal moments so I just wanted your thoughts on the performance?

LB: Yeah, he was outstanding. We thought going in maybe that they'd be a bit challenged with their height. We didn't anticipate that (Jack) Lukosius was going to play back so they didn't have too many concerns there. But you're always searching for evidence and what the team you’re playing is thinking around match ups and whether it's system-based or role-based and I think Cody’s a handful for any smaller/medium defender, and he played a really important role for us today. So we need to keep mixing it up, 'cause there are days…it's probably the hardest position on the ground that small-forward role, and there are days when Cody's not gonna…he's gonna work hard, but he's not going to get those opportunities, so we need to keep mixing it up for him, but it's great to see him get some reward for his intensity, I suppose. and his willingness to play that sort of deeper role at different times.

Q: Is he almost like a barometer for the team? Because when it seems like he's up and going it almost seems like the whole team gets a lift and gets really ignited by when he's really on fire?

LB: Oh, it helps. I mean you get enough inside 50s and you’re able to capitalise and he is a great finisher. I mean there’s small forwards in the game that (are) probably out there more for defence then score assists and score ability and ‘Flea’ defends well, he’s got a terrifically-rounded game but he's a really dangerous forward but when you think about the ignition what lit the forest and what gave us the impetus, it definitely started in that middle with the midfield brigade being able to get on top early and provide us with some momentum.

Q: You mentioned Caleb (Daniel) earlier. How did you see how he responded to being the sub last week? It seemed like just a really professional response from one of your better players?

LB: yeah really mature and as you say professional and he’s such a great team man. When you reflect back on his journey and all the different roles that he’s played...he is a great director and also conversation point for us out there, he's a terrific leader so in the roles that he's always played he's kind of got to find the right role for him game to game almost. So I think coming up against different opposition week in, week out, you can place him where you think he's going to have the most effect and you'll be able to pull it off. He's not a player that will come to you and say, ‘hey, I need to be bedded down in a primary role’. He can play anywhere. So yeah, he didn't have leather poisoning today, but his role was critical to the team's performance.

Q: Does make it difficult with someone like him who can fulfill many roles? Do you know the right way of going about it?

LB: Yeah, it's a challenge at times and trying to place him where he's going to create the most headaches for the opposition sometimes and we've moved away from him playing as a high defender regularly in recent times. It's not that he won't play there and we’ll keep an open mind there at times. Today we will see him behind the stoppage and it’s part of the adjustments that he was making. It wasn't a gale force wind, but it's enough that the ball is going to carry and who reads the turnover game so well that he gets to spots 10 metres ahead of others because he’s that far ahead of the game. But getting back to the pointiness of is it difficult to? It is at times, especially when there's a lot of pressure on for sports and that's has sort of happened in coming into the start of the year. Some of the younger guys like Harvey Gallagher and Ryley Sanders and some of the new players Lachie Bramble was good again today unfortunately as I said we lost Nick Coffield with his shoulder and the wingers leading into the game and the start of the year, so they were putting pressure on and we need integrity for the whole group. But he managed it really well, but he like even the experienced guys you mentioned before, he just knows it each week he's got to be at his best and he was influential today.

Q: I was just going to say, Sam Darcy and Buku (Khamis) it seemed to me that they (their performances) would be confidence-boosters, I imagine?

LB: Yeah, I think so. I mean Buku is another one that had a good lead into the season then it was challenging last week but today he was super. His intercept game was strong and getting back to enough pressure on the ball but he's read on that’s generally pretty good, and yeah for Sam I mentioned before the game that he’s better positioned to play at the level for a longer period of time and I think he impacted pretty well in the two positions he played today and he’s so long and he’s got a lot of courage Sam so he’ll gets as many contests he can. So it was good, good signs for him.

Q: And I assume the two boys that you mentioned will be unavailable for this week? Will that open the door for Jack Macrae? Had 47 touches in the VFL today I think it was? Is he getting closer to bridging the team a bit?

LB: Yeah, so Nick Coffield. Yeah, he’s definitely out. Who's the other one?

Q: It looked like Ed Richards came off.

LB: Yes, Yeah, yeah. ‘Richo’s going to be out with a concussion. So yeah, I mean it's not that we didn't consider Jack this week, but I think what one of the important things is, is you back your preparation in and the temptation was there, but for Harvey (Gallagher) and Ryley Sanders to play as the supporting act, they really earned it. They've done extremely well and as I've said, Jack is still in a build and today at VFL level, there was probably enough evidence that he’s pretty ready to step up. So there’s no doubt he’d be considered and he’d be a big chance to come in. So we’ll work out what the shuffle is 'cause of the five inside mids who played through there, none of did anything wrong so it's it becomes a bit of a team balance-type decision as well.

Q: And just a comment on (Nick) Coffield. It must be so disappointing. He worked so hard to get back to playing footy. Now it seems like a very serious shoulder injury?

LB: Yeah, Belly (Head of Sports Medicine Chris Bell) just mentioned to me that he's had that shoulder repaired before, so, yeah it’s disappointing. I think we hoped when we bought him in he’d get a clean run of it, run at it over preseason because he had some late soft tissue stuff at stage league level last year. And thankfully has and his knee’s held up fine, but yeah, it’s a pretty unstable, that shoulder, so imagine he, I can't confirm what's going to happen, but I imagine he's going to be out for a fair while.

Q: I guess Oskar (Baker) really took his chance. Three goals. Career best for him coming off (the bench)?

LB: Yeah. Yeah he did. Yeah. So good. Good for him to finish like that and he's another example of a lad who is probably stiff at selection to miss out on Round One. But yeah, it's always sort of a psychological challenge for the sub to come on and make an impact. I suppose if you come on a bit earlier you’ve got a bit more time so I thought he'd and Poults (Caleb Poulter) did pretty good job on those wings and supporting guys filled in the gaps.

Q: Ed? How's he? With a concussion? And did you see the collision?

LB: Yes. Sorry I cut you off. Yeah, it was right in front of us, so we knew. Yeah. I think these days when someone goes down like that straight away you jump to the glass half-empty-type conclusion and he’s fine. There’s no dramas. Well, I shouldn’t say that, I’m not a medical practitioner. But obviously when you come off and you can't come back on then you miss and you've got 12 days (off due to concussion protocols). So hopefully it's just the 12 (days) and he hasn't had many head knocks over the journey ‘Richo’, and we find ourselves saying that, don’t we? So we’ll just look after him and all things going well then he’ll be available for the for the Gather Round in a couple of weeks.