Coach Brendan McCartney will call upon his Western Bulldogs AFL side to show some spirit on Sunday and play like the late Charlie Sutton did.
Tough guy Sutton, who captain-coached the Bulldogs to their only VFL/AFL premiership in 1954, was farewelled by players and supporters at a public memorial service on Friday.
The Bulldogs (4-6) have undone some of their good work earlier in the season with a 92-point loss to the Swans at the SCG in round 10, followed by last week’s bye.
They host the improving Port Adelaide (4-7) at Etihad Stadium on Sunday in what is shaping as very much a winnable game for both sides.
Port are coming off a 46-point loss at home to Hawthorn last week, in a clash which featured several off-the-ball incidents as the Hawks tried to rough-up Port’s lightly-built playmaker Danyle Pearce.
“Hawthorn, they did so much right on the day,” Bulldogs assistant coach Brett Montgomery told AAP this week.
“Yes there was a lot of niggle in the game. They brought a level of physicality which I’m sure internally they were rapt with.
“We’d like to be able to get that from our guys as well.
“We’d like to see them play with the spirit that Charlie (Sutton) played with and the way he lived his life.
“He has been an incredible supporter of the players.
“He was always there for a good friendly chat and some advice.
“He was part of the furniture.”
A key focus for the Bulldogs will be encouraging the attacking flair of dual All-Australian fullback Brian Lake, who faces the task of shutting down Port’s key forward Jay Schulz.
“His confidence is really building again (after a injury-marred 2011) to be able to swing that balance from all defence to being an attacking defender,” Montgomery said.
“His confidence is growing day by day, not only in his form but also in his body.”
Montgomery, a former Port player and ex-housemate of Port coach Matthew Primus, says Schulz is one of those smart forwards who simply attracts the ball.
“A lot of their attacks come his way,” Montgomery said.
“It hasn’t been a great year for tall forwards but he’s certainly stood up (with 25 goals).”
The Bulldogs have recalled Christian Howard and young centre half-forward Liam Jones while Port have dropped key defender Alipate Carlile not meeting fitness requirements, while Cameron Hitchcock is also out for Tom Logan and hard nut Matt Thomas.
Montgomery said Jones, 21, was still learning the craft.
“It’s a cruel game sometimes. It’s not a game that’s going to wait for anyone,” he said.
Montgomery said second-year onballers Tom Liberatore and Mitch Wallis were improving rapidly, while 2011 All-Australian Robert Murphy was thriving as a utility midfielder/defender.