Consistent pressure will be a non-negotiable from the Western Bulldogs come Saturday, when they tackle a buoyant Brisbane Lions outfit at Etihad Stadium.

Brisbane are fresh from their second win of the season and their improved clearance work did not go unnoticed by Bulldogs Senior Coach Brendan McCartney.

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“They were very good at their stoppages, pushed the ball forward quickly to an open forward line and showed great fight,” McCartney said.

“They were, what, 20 points down and won pretty comfortably in the end.”

If the Bulldogs can replicate the strong defensive performance from last week against Fremantle, McCartney said it will go a long way towards a competitive result.

The Bulldogs coach is particularly focused on taking opportunities when they present themselves and playing four quarters with real intent. 

“They (games) are all important, it’s another test for us to do so much of what we’ve done pretty well in nearly all our games - with a strong focus of doing it all day and taking our opportunities,” he said.

“Every game there’s areas in your game that may come up short, so you show them in this very room, put them in a training environment to work on them and see it come out in games.

“We are seeing that with more and more of our boys – not to forget there’s an opposition out on the ground.”

McCartney commended the fight shown by the Bulldogs against Fremantle and said the growth in the young side was evident in how they continued to control most parts of the game.

“We played a very, very good defensive team last week who we were very close to getting through,” he said.

“It was part us… maybe [not] having that finishing skill to do it but at the same time don’t underestimate just how good defensively they are back of centre – they are extraordinary in that area.