WESTERN Bulldogs great Brad Johnson believes his former side are maturing into premiership contention.<\/p>\n
The Dogs have raced away to a 4-0 start after beating Brisbane by 19 points in Ballarat on Saturday, with their swift ball movement dazzling observers.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me it\u2019s always been \u2018how can the Bulldogs manage to get themselves to become a top four team?\u2019\u201d Johnson related on SEN Mornings.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re starting to see that now with the growth and maturity in a lot of players in their line-up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson pinpointed Bailey Williams and Bailey Smith as standouts, with the competition for spots turbocharging the pups\u2019 progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you look across all the lines there\u2019s experience there, but they\u2019ve also got developing youth fighting for a senior spot in the line-up,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n
The Dogs games record holder believes the personnel waiting their turn will continue to buoy the side as the year goes on.<\/p>\n
\u201cEaston Wood (just) returned really well, you\u2019ve still got Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Rhylee West running around in the reserves\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cHayden Crozier is out injured at the moment (too), so there\u2019s growth in that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Johnson believes Luke Beveridge\u2019s side is maturing tactically too, having redirected its dynamic disposal to get the ball to the forwards sooner and put less pressure on the backline.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a bit of a change up (from) handballing and releasing out the back. They\u2019re getting that handball out the side of the contest and releasing forward.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s keeping better structure forward of the ball, (and) it\u2019s certainly supporting the defence.\u201d<\/p>\n
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