Pressure and consistency are the keys to the Western Bulldogs climbing back up the ladder assistant coach Daniel Giansiracusa has told Adelaide radio.
Speaking to 5AA ahead of the return bout with Port Adelaide in Ballarat on Sunday, Giansiracusa said if the young Dogs can apply consistent pressure and play out all four quarters, a rapid spike is on the cards.
“I don’t think it will take too long to get back up to where we want to be,” Giansiracusa said.
“It hasn’t gone the way we wanted it to go but we’ve got to try and bottle what we had in 2016, and that was an unbelievable desire to put pressure on the opposition and really get in their face.”
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“We haven’t had that at the levels we want this year but we’ve seen glimpses of it and what we’re preaching to the players is that two quarters just doesn’t get it done, you’ve got to do it for four quarters.”
The Dogs may have lost their past three games but at different points against Hawthorn (down two at half time), Melbourne (down three at half time) and West Coast (-6 points over quarters’ two and three), all top eight contenders, they were well in the contest.
The ability to sustain their periods of good play is key, according to Giansiracusa.
“As I said, Melbourne two weeks ago at half time, we’re level and then they smoke us,” he said.
“We’re a big chance against Port Adelaide this week, they’ve got to come over to Ballarat, I think it’s going to be seven degrees, they’ve got a showdown a week after, I don’t know how they’ll approach it but it’s massive for them as well.’
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The Dogs will be buoyed by the return of star playmaker Marcus Bontempelli who will captain the side in his 100th game after recovering from a bout of appendicitis.
“We’re very happy with that, he’s been sorely missed,” he said.
“Not only for the talent he brings to the group and they sort of player he is but he’s a leader around our footy club.
“He plays his 100th game, which is a great achievement for him, he’s achieved so much a young player, our side looks a lot better when he’s in it. Hopefully he can give the Power a few headaches.”
