It shapes as a nightmare for the losers, but Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney wants his players “daring to dream” as they take on fellow strugglers Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.
Apart from expansion clubs Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast, the Dogs and Demons entered the weekend as the AFL’s only two winless teams.
But McCartney said there was no point worrying about the consequences of defeat.
He wants his players thinking about what they can create on the football field, not what might go wrong.
“It’s still a work in progress and we’ve certainly had our problems moving the ball at times,” McCartney said.
“Sometimes that’s a combination of things and it has been the opposition, or some players just (not) daring to dream sometimes actually, just bashing themselves in and taking the game on, not being fearful of a mistake.
“I’m quite confident we’re producing an environment here where people feel confident enough to play and do their jobs and not think, ‘Gee, if I make a mistake this will look bad or it will reflect on the team.'”
McCartney said the Bulldogs’ status as the competition’s lowest-scoring side this season other than the Giants could partly reflect a lack of boldness.
“Sometimes it can be off the back of having some defenders that are reticent to take the game on, or mids who don’t want to take the game on,” he said.
As well as their attacking troubles, the Bulldogs have some issues in defence, missing key trio Brian Lake (suspension), Tom Williams and Dale Morris (both injured).
Melbourne’s ex-Brisbane tall forward Mitch Clark looms as the biggest threat to an inexperienced Dogs defence.
Despite losing Lake, the Bulldogs did not add another tall defender to their 22, although the untried Mark Austin is an emergency.
But McCartney suggested Jordan Roughead, who has previously played mostly in ruck or attack, was a potential opponent for Clark.
“Jordan Roughead went back there (to defence) last week and showed some signs,” he said.
The Demons were strengthened by the return of reigning best and fairest Brent Moloney.
The match will be preceded by a tribute to late Demons great Jim Stynes, with Melbourne players to wear a special guernsey in his honour.
McCartney said he could not predict what effect the occasion would have on the Demon, but the Bulldogs considered themselves privileged to be involved.
“Everyone misses Jim Stynes, just his presence and his goodness.
“I think we all loved and respected that and we’re no different at our football club.”