Vice-captain Marcus Bontempelli says his side will learn from a 61-point loss to the AFL’s reigning premiers, as they target an improved second half of the season.
The Bulldogs enter the bye with a 4-7 record, sitting in 14th spot on the ladder.
Wins against top-eight sides Richmond and Brisbane Lions have been among the highlights for the Bulldogs, but losses to the likes of Carlton, Gold Coast and North Melbourne leave the side two games outside the top eight.
“We probably just haven’t played good enough for long enough in different games,” Bontempelli said.
“We’ve missed out on opportunities to beat teams because we haven’t been fully at our best.”
The Bulldogs’ best – even in patches in defeat – has been scintillating.
Bontempelli believes the Bulldogs can string together improved performances after the bye, with a few tweaks.
“We’ve got to take a short-term look at the season,” he said.
“Although we’re a young team, we can’t just count on time improving us and moulding us.
“We’ve got to be prepared to adjust in game and especially when the momentum shifts, being able to lift our intensity and respond to that.
“That falls on us a little bit as leaders to be able to help the younger blokes to adjust a little bit and not rely on them so heavily.”
A promising first-half – where the Bulldogs had more scoring shots than the Eagles – was counteracted by a nine-goal second half from the reigning premiers to break the game open.
“Every game we want to bring an intensity that’ll help us win, and I think in that first half we put ourselves in a good position to (win),” Bontempelli said.
“We just weren’t able to find it again in that third quarter.
“There’s always good learnings coming out of every game, and hopefully this can be one we bounce back from.”
