With a host of players set to return from injury after the bye, the Western Bulldogs will be ready for the challenges of the second half of the season according to assistant coach Daniel Giansiracusa.

The Dogs sit in six place on the AFL ladder, one place, one win and 14 per cent ahead of where they were at the same point last year, despite a run of injuries to key personnel.  

“It’s all credit to the players, they’re doing a fantastic job," Giansiracusa told Sportsday Radio on Monday night.

“We’ve had some challenges along the way, it’s been well documented that half-back position, and the players that’ve gone through there… we’ve had some injuries through it. 

“The boys take those challenges on, and what Luke’s done since he's come to the footy club is that anyone can play at any time, and they play to the structures that we play and we’ve seen that with the younger players in the side.

"Josh Dunkley’s come in, Bailey Williams, in what was a pretty poor performance as a collective was fantastic on Saturday night, and he’s just slotted in nicely for us.”

It’s been a hallmark of Luke Beveridge’s coaching since he arrived at the Club in November 2014, that good form in the VFL will be rewarded and already Josh Dunkley, Bailey Williams, Kieran Collins and Marcus Adams have played senior roles in their first year as AFL footballers.

The Dogs face three current top-eight teams on the run home, including the Swans in at the SCG on July 2, followed by return bouts with Geelong and North Melbourne in rounds 18 and 19, but Giansiracusa says the side is focused on improving its own game, rather than specific opponents.

“We’re really proud of the boys, they’re really positive, we’re going into the back half of the season setting it up as we have the first half and hopefully we can keep getting those wins and also improve on our game.

“Obviously the weekend was disappointing, but hopefully we’re in pretty good stead to have a good crack at it in the back half of the year.”