Dogs can overcome AFL distractions: Bevo
Jun 23, 2017 - 3:11 AM Coach Luke Beveridge knows the wolves are at the door, but the question is whether the Western Bulldogs will let them in.The reigning AFL premiers have been plagued by distractions ahead of Saturday night's clash with North Melbourne.
Talk of infighting arose early in the week after a 57-point thrashing from Melbourne, the Dogs' second heavy loss in as many games.
Jake Stringer later took to Instagram to angrily deny rumours of a rift with teammate Jason Johannisen.
Travis Cloke's decision to take leave to deal with mental health issues has also inevitably occupied Beveridge's attention.
But he insists the Bulldogs can find a way to drown out the distractions and return to form when they host the Kangaroos at Etihad Stadium.
"It's there, but it's up to us whether we let it in," Beveridge said on Friday.
"(Am I) concerned? I think about it.
"We've got to take care of things that we can control to influence a good performance because in our memory banks in recent times, we know what works."
Stringer's Instagram post had the inadvertent effect of bringing the rumours to greater attention but Beveridge said he could see where the star forward was coming from.
"Ordinarily we don't encourage our players to go out and make statements or react to rumour but I can understand why he did," Beveridge said.
"If I put myself in the same position I'd probably want to react or respond and get the facts out there.
"I think it's really difficult when there are rumours around that obviously aren't true and you want to set the record straight."
Cloke's decision to take indefinite leave came after in-form midfielder Lin Jong was struck down by a season-ending knee injury.
Ruck-forward Tom Boyd (calf) will also miss Saturday's clash, with the Dogs recalling tall duo Tom Campbell and Jack Redpath.
"It's not a bad calf but he was touch and go even to come up this week so we were just a little bit conservative there," Beveridge said of Boyd.
"He may be a chance next week. I wouldn't imagine it's a long-term thing."
The Dogs will consider sending Jordan Roughead down back at times after North added 195cm-forward Majak Daw to a side already containing Ben Brown, Mason Wood, Jarrad Waite and Todd Goldstein.
Skipper Bob Murphy (hamstring) is expected to return for next week's clash with West Coast.
Source: AAP
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