Dogs high on confidence for AFL finals push after bye

Key defender Alex Keath hopes a mid-season break can help the Western Bulldogs freshen up and refocus for a charge towards the AFL’s top-four – and possibly silverware.

The Bulldogs (8-6) sit a game clear inside the top eight despite losing three of their last four games heading into their round-15 bye.

They steadied the ship with a 21-point victory over North Melbourne last week.

But it came at a cost when defenders Liam Jones (broken arm) and Tim O’Brien (hamstring) were added to a long injury list with setbacks that will keep them sidelined for two months.

“Realistically, the last month hasn’t gone the way we would’ve liked,” Keath told AAP.

“We’ve played some good sides and we’ve been competitive.

“But if we want to challenge and make a good fist of things at the end of the year, we’ve got some improving to do.”

The Bulldogs host Fremantle at Marvel Stadium in round 16 and face only two current top-eight sides in the run home.

Key backs Jones and O’Brien are hoping to be fit before the finals, while running defenders Jason Johannisen and Ed Richards (both hamstring) could be back within a month.

Versatile young tall Sam Darcy (jaw) is also poised to return to fitness in coming weeks.

“The belief in this group’s huge and it will be good if we get some cattle back,” Keath said.

“You always need a bit of luck with that sort of stuff.

“But the belief’s certainly there and a lot of hard work’s gone into the first half of the year, so I think we can build on it now.”

The Bulldogs need to patch up their defence for the Fremantle clash, having used spearhead Aaron Naughton and wingman Bailey Williams as makeshift backmen against North Melbourne when Jones and O’Brien went down.

Coach Luke Beveridge says it’s unlikely Naughton will continue in defence, indicating reserves trio Ryan Gardner, James O’Donnell and Josh Bruce would be considered for recalls.

But Naughton remains a viable option if required.

The 23-year-old was drafted as a key defender and spent his first AFL year in the back-line before shifting forward, where he has kicked 124 goals in 61 games over the last two-and-a-half seasons.

“He’s one that can play a number of roles,” Keath said.

“Obviously he’s been integral forward for us but having him in the back-line is fantastic. I love playing alongside him down there.

“Whether it is something to persist with remains to be seen but he’s a fantastic player for us at either end.”