The Bulldogs have built a reputation as being a team that thrives on contested situations, and Matthew Boyd says the team are focussing on recapturing that strength against North Melbourne on Sunday.

The Kangaroos were also beaten in the contested ball statistic against a rampant Essendon team, and similarly want to improve that area of the game. 

“It should be a pretty fierce contest,” Boyd told SEN this morning.

“There was obviously talk from the North Melbourne camp that they [were] getting out competed, and we felt that way as well about our own game.”

Although there will be some work put into the opposition, as is the case every week, Matthew Boyd said it’s from within that the team will seek most improvement.

“We obviously have a look at everyone and try to understand the different roles that each other play within the side,” he said.

“I guess coming into this week, what we’re going to do is really focus on ourselves and focus on what we have to achieve and trying to get back to playing Bulldogs footy.”

Boyd said he wanted to keep contributing both and off the field and has been encouraged by not only the rate of improvement of his young teammates, but their desire to want to improve quickly.

“We [all] want to improve now, and we want to get better, and these young guys are starting to get better and I’m seeing that come through now,” he said.

“…it’s about making a valuable contribution and trying to fast-track the development of these guys and that’s the role of leaders within footy clubs.”