Beveridge turns heat on Wallis and Roughead
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has turned the spotlight on premiership ruckman Jordan Roughead and midfielder Mitch Wallis, declaring each must lift in a year when they are looking to broker new contracts.
Wallis, who has averaged 21 disposals in seven senior games this year but was dropped after the loss to Adelaide despite having 20 touches and 10 tackles, and Roughead, with only four senior matches, have struggled for consistent form and have spent time in the VFL.
Roughead, 27, has battled form and injury woes since the 2016 premiership while Wallis, 25, has yet to return to his consistent best since he broke his leg against St Kilda and missed the flag.
Beveridge said the two men were wanted players but the Dogs needed more from them. Each is a restricted free agent at season's end.
"[Roughead] is a free agent at the end of this year, so we're working with his management at the moment to try and re-sign him because he is definitely a required player," Beveridge said.
"He'll need to perform at his best pretty quickly to establish what his future is beyond this year, and I really believe he can.
"Mitch is working his way back from that leg break, and hasn't exactly got back to his absolute best, but I'm sure he will. He'll accumulate and be involved but we're looking for a qualitative sheen on his game that we need and it is part of our scope to score.
"We want our mids to score and really capitalise on their involvement in the game, and Mitch is trying to grow that.
"Like 'Roughy', Mitch is definitely a required player, and I and other coaches talk to him weekly around what his focus areas are to get back in the team. I've got no doubt he will get back into the team."
Beveridge's comments are a sign the rebuilding Bulldogs have, in part, turned their attention towards next season. Roughead and Wallis would have rival suitors, with the latter a potential fit at Carlton, a side in need of midfield depth.
Ahead of Saturday's clash against a surging Melbourne at Etihad Stadium, Beveridge has urged his team to be more patient when looking to score, declaring the "alarm bells aren't totally ringing yet" after a rugged fortnight which has seen the Dogs slip from finals contention.
The Dogs managed only two goals against the Crows on a wet night a fortnight ago and were goalless after half-time against the Magpies last weekend, having booted eight in the first half with Tom Boyd, Tory Dickson and Roughead threatening. Their combined second-half woes against the Crows and Magpies have meant their have managed only 1.11, compared to their rivals' 14.15.
A lack of potency in front of goal is demonstrated in that only two men have booted 10 goals or more - former Blue Billy Gowers (13) leads their goal-kicking, while Marcus Bontempelli has 10.
The Dogs will need to find more avenues to goal against the Demons, who have booted 48 in the past fortnight. The Demons rank first for scoring, inside 50s and marks inside 50.
Beveridge said his young side was still finding its way in terms of scoring power.
"We look at the fact that we were able to do it for a couple of quarters and how we did it, why we were able to do it, against the Pies, who have been pretty good in their scoring power and defensively, they are continuing to work on their game," he said.
"We can feel encouraged by that. As we mature and establish some more power, speed and endurance side of it, last longer, it enables you to keep the ball in your hands longer and the skill aspect comes out a bit more.
"We need to be a little bit patient with it [the ball]. The alarm bells aren't totally ringing yet - we have got to leverage off the good things and just want to do them for longer. There is some good system there when we can pull it off, it's just doing it for longer."
The Dogs have also struggled for accuracy in front of goal, converting at only 39 per cent, but their backline will welcome the return of Dale Morris, who returns for his first senior match of the season after a knee injury.
"He has always had a physical presence the way he has played. In recent times, our inconsistency around that real combative side of the game has left us a little bit vulnerable in different games. He will definitely get some pep out of the boys in that regard. It's just important that not only everyone else feeds off it but brings their own form of attack on the footy and opposition," Beveridge said.
Mitch Honeychurch also returns but Zaine Cordy (concussion) and Bailey Dale (foot) are out.