Bulldogs hit best form since run to 2021 grand final

COACH Luke Beveridge believes his Western Bulldogs have hit their best form since reaching the 2021 grand final.

The Bulldogs spent Friday night sitting fourth on the ladder after demolishing Melbourne by 51 points at Marvel Stadium for their fourth-straight win.

After starting the season 3-5, the Bulldogs have soared into premiership contention by downing fellow finals contenders during a lethal month.

Since losing the 2021 decider to Melbourne, the Bulldogs lost an elimination final in 2022 before missing September altogether last year.

“The combination in our game style, keeping the opposition to low scores and us being able to hit the scoreboard, it would have to be probably the best patch (since 2021),” Beveridge said.

“There’s some encouraging signs around what the future might hold. It’s hard not to get caught up in that and that’s where the challenge is.

“We’re just trying to stay on an edge.”

When the Bulldogs began the season slowly, attention turned to Beveridge himself and if he was the right person to lead the club forward.

“The perception externally, there was a lot of dialogue and commentary around my tenure, but internally, it was a different world,” he said.

“I’ve always felt that everyone’s had a lot of faith in what I do and I’ve always had a lot of faith in our people.”

After having a five-day break before facing Melbourne, the Bulldogs will have nine days off ahead of their away trip to play Adelaide.

“The boys wouldn’t have gotten to bed until 1am (Monday morning after beating Sydney at the SCG with a) delayed flight; high winds at the airport,” Beveridge said.

“Their powers of recovery and their commitment on a five-day break (never wavered) but we never even talked about it.

“It’s a real credit to what the boys did and then to finish the game off the way that they did.”