Western Bulldogs senior coach Luke Beveridge says Sunday’s win over Narrm will provide plenty of inner belief for the team.

The Bulldogs were on the right end of a three-point thriller in Marnrgrook at Marvel, claiming their sixth win of the 2026 season.

“We’re all pretty chuffed with the performance, (especially) when you consider the way the Demons have been going,” Beveridge told media post-game.

“We came out of last week’s game being touched up in the critical areas – contest, clearance and the territory game – so you can imagine our mandate and focus today was to fix all that up. 

“I thought the boys were outstanding. It was probably just that few minutes at the end of the second quarter where (the Dees) really got a run on with some of their brilliance that undid some of our good work.

“To win another close one gives us a lot of inner belief.”

Beveridge was particularly impressed with Rory Lobb, Rhylee West and Aaron Naughton, praising their late efforts when the game was on the line.

“For Lobby to give us stability through the ruck – it was just so important. Great credit to Rory for what he did as the game went on,” Beveridge said.

“Rhylee West’s run-down in the last quarter – what a team-lifting moment that was. 

“That was just a big moment in the game. It doesn’t happen very often in open-field that a player gets run down like that – and at that point of the game, it was a team-lifter unlike anything you’ll see.

“Westy’s having an impact – there’s still increments of improvement to come in his game. His consistency of contribution as a small forward is a difficult thing as we know – it’s such a hard place to play.

“In the last quarter Naughts didn’t come off – I don’t know how many kicks or handballs he had, but his fight, his third or fourth efforts, and just his willingness to keep the ball in his area…it’s not going to stand out from a highlights point of view but we needed it at different times. 

“I thought he did an enormous job.”