Western Bulldogs senior coach Luke Beveridge has described Saturday’s 81-point win over GWS as an important one.

The Bulldogs are 2/2 to start their 2026 campaign following a five-point win over Brisbane last weekend.

Beveridge said while it’s still too early to tell which teams will rise or fall, it’s a promising start for his side.

“We probably haven't had the start to a season like this one for a little while, so that's encouraging for us,” Beveridge told media post-match.

14:09

Luke Beveridge | Post Match (R1)

Watch Western Bulldogs’s press conference after round one’s match against GWS

“As I said during the week, you don’t know week-to-week, team-to-team, who's going to come and create momentum in their season, or who's going to drop off.

“I thought the Giants were pretty impressive last week against the Hawks, and I thought their pressure early was almost extraordinary in this game but I felt like our players really weathered a storm. 

“To be able to come out the other side of that and then slow them down was tremendous for us. 

“The work throughout the course of the game was relentless really, so it's an important win for us.”

Beveridge was full of praise for skipper Marcus Bontempelli, who led from the front with 33 disposals, three goals and 677 metres gained, and new co-vice captain Aaron Naughton, who finished with six goals from 15 disposals.

00:41

AFL R1 | 'Something in the way he moves': Bontempelli magic

Marcus Bontempelli spirals a sky-high effort through the big sticks with ease in a super start for the Bulldogs

“It's rare that I stand in front of the group and blow smoke because I don't want him to feel uncomfortable - he knows what I think of him. But after today, it was necessary to definitely acknowledge how well he played,” Beveridge said of Bontempelli.

“He was quite incredible, really. 

“There are other terrific contributors, but he's by far and away the most influential player. He and Aaron - Aaron’s game was extraordinary as well. 

“Those two individuals had ridiculously good games.”

03:06

AFL R1 | Naughton's special six shines bright

Aaron Naughton had a day out against the Giants booting six goals and taking 11 marks in dominant performance

Beveridge also provided an update on debutant Will Lewis. 

“He's okay, surprisingly. He's had a test and he's come through and he's okay,” Beveridge said.

“I thought that might have been it for him for another week or so, but he’s a strong young man. It was a bit of a train wreck, that (collision), but he's come out of it okay.”

The Bulldogs will next face Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.