The Bulldogs have played their best football when every member of the team is contributing defensively, McCartney says, and he wants to see that in spades against the Crows.   

“It’s not a matter of just worrying about one or two opponents,” McCartney said.

“If you play… anywhere on the ground you should actually put as much time into your opponent and where he’s positioned as you do chasing the ball.

“Invariably when you do that you are much better as a team and you are a lot better to play with, you’re a lot better bloke to have out on the ground.”

McCartney said regardless of position, reputation or experience, the expectation is for every Bulldogs player to help their teammates and play their role.

“Sometimes you might be playing on someone who’s a little better than you, or in some cases a lot better but you half the difference by just having a nice balance to your game,” he said.

“We expect all of our players to play with a good balance, it’s what we go to work with them [from] day one when they come to our Club.

“They are the sort of people that we go looking for to draft and bring to our Club - they are the right sort of people to play with out on the ground.”