A win against the odds as the Dogs dug deep to defeat the Dees at the MCG. 

Speaking following the impressive win, senior coach Luke Beveridge shared his positivity ahead of the Wildcard Finals. 

On approach to the game:

"Turning up, it was a better equation, because we knew at least we were going to play (in the wildcard).

"So that was good just to probably relieve the tension a fraction, but it was important that we didn't focus on the (potential) outcomes.

"I didn't even mention it, but you knew everyone was monitoring the Carlton Fremantle game, and I'm pretty sure everyone knew that Carlton won so nothing you can do about that.

"I thought the application and the follow through, and even the calmness with what was going on (on) the ground was first rate.

"Every win measures up, doesn't it? But it is a pretty impressive win by the boys, we're all pretty chuffed with how well they did. So it was quite outstanding."

On the team's performance:

"Well, I feel like our defensive side of our game's been intact for a fair while. We've been making it difficult for teams to score.

"I mean, Melbourne, who moved the ball quite fluently, didn't score anything from their back end which is a pretty significant defensive performance.

"There was too much activity in their front end, in-out-in stuff, particularly in that second quarter.

"And we held up okay, and we were getting bang for buck going inside. We just couldn't create enough opportunities.

"When you compare last week against Carlton to this one, there were similar opportunities in overlap in front of centre where last week we probably kicked it away, where this week we used each other better.

"We created close-to-goal set shots, and that's really important. Obviously, we scored a bit more heavily than usual. So, it's growth there.

"The complexion of the team has changed quite significantly.

"Obviously, we're down on key forwards, the ruck situation (is) malleable, (Rory Lobb) and (Ryan Gardiner) fought the good fight, but Max (Gawn) is just such an Adonis. And I thought around the footy, we managed to do enough, through our midfield, to keep the game stable.

"It's not a quintessential forward line, but the growth in the younger fellas, (Josh Dolan) and (Luke) Kennedy, (Cooper Hynes) on the wing, Sam Davidson, and Cody (Weightman) and (Rhylee West) came to life and Arty Jones. So it's a different forward line.

"Losing (Aaron Naughton) was a concern … and when you're playing late in a different mode, and you've got no height in front of the ball, you do have to be a little bit inventive, and I thought the players worked through Melbourne's pressure, which I thought was pretty good all afternoon.

"I thought we worked through their pressure pretty well. And that's a really important thing coming up to this week."

Composure at the finish:

"You saw the way they came out of centre bounce, through Gawn's hits, and Kozzie Pickett's clean clearances, and it's hard for a back line to combat, isn't it?

"And so, it was important, we got it going our way out of the centre late, which we did, through Lobby going back in there, and (Ed Richards), and, I think Matty Kennedy or Marcus got a couple of clearances, so that was important.

"But I think with the young guys, and being able to just find that mark and allow us to have set shots was an important time just to take a breath and compose our minds as a little bit. And, you know, that's obviously telling."

Naughton injury:

"We think he'll be okay, but the risk of looking after him, as far as getting him back out there and maybe giving him a painkiller or two, his ankle had already started to swell. So we made the choice to ice him up for next week.

"It's a lateral ligament injury, which can settle down really quickly. So that's just a bunch of strained ligaments. He ices and he settles and he doesn't train much and hopefully he'll be okay. But I can't tell you emphatically whether he'll come up."

Returning players:

"We had to look after (Connor Budarick) in particular, he's had a fair break and he had that lower leg syndesmosis injury, which means he was off legs for the fair part of his rehab, and he was either end we needed to use him as a shorter swingman and he did a really good job for us. 

"And Bailey (Dale) was important.

"Obviously, Marcus (Bontempelli), coming back after a week off, was influential at different times, and don't leave out Gardi, you know? He fought hard. Obviously, kicked a pretty clutch goal for us in that last quarter, which is fantastic. Really happy for him."

On Marcus Bontempelli: 

"I said the couple of weeks before (when) he had the rest against (Carlton) that whatever it takes to settle that Achilles down, but he was saying, I'm not having two (weeks off), but it was still a chance to have two off, because he's still carrying it.

"But, yeah, he was pretty good and he didn't spend the normal amount of midfield time that he usually does.

"So, he went forward a little bit and he had an influential game. So yeah pleased, he helped us win, but it was probably good for the boys last week to play a pretty encouraging game without Marcus in the team.

"It's not like they don't need him. Everyone needs their teammates, and we need Marcus to play well, but they were good signs that they spread the load the boys last week, and then as I said, he wasn't in the inside mid brigade a lot (today).

"We gave him more rest in this game than we usually do. But he'll hopefully be full noise next week, and we'll see how we go."

On Tim English:

"Well I thought when I was asked a question a couple weeks ago, (a quick return was) unlikely given the nature of the injury.

"He's doing his best to get back, I couldn't tell you either way. So, we'll see how that unfolds, and whether or not he can come up.

"I mean, unfortunately, the nature of the injury is terrible for a ruckman, because of what they do, they throw each other at the centre bounce, and so that probably compounds the decision-making process a little bit. But we'll work through it.

"The good thing is, he's up and running, and he's doing his best to come back, so we'll wait and see."

On Tom Liberatore:

"He's booked in for an arthroscope tomorrow. He was not even a quarter or a third way through the (training) session on Thursday (when) he had to come off, and now based on what's happening in one of those knees, he needs a tidy up.

"So for him to come back and play we'd need to win a few in a row now, which we believe we can.

"But he'll be off legs for a little while, so we'll see how it happens, but I don't want to go on the shady side or the other. It's best just to stay neutral, because he'll be up and about supporting his teammates, but he'll go into surgery tomorrow and have an arthroscope. "

On wildcard chances:

"The boys will go in with a fair degree of belief, and it's a brilliant thing.

"Whether it's Friday night or not, the AFL are keeping their powder dry. When you think about it, did they create the wildcard for us? We finished ninth last year with 14 wins.

"Thirteen and a half this year, and we finish 8th. So it just shows you, the evenness of the top end last year, it was difficult to wedge in there.

"But this year's been a bit different, the close games we've won, the teams we've beaten above us, the teams we've beaten around us, it gives us belief that we can do it. It's the first wildcard game … so it's kind of unique, and you can imagine against the Pies the Colosseum will be heaving and I know that we'll look forward to it. It's going to be a great experience."