Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has described his side’s season-opening defeat to Collingwood as a “nightmare” – but has no doubt his side is far more capable than it showed on Friday night.

The Bulldogs were beaten right across the ground, as they slumped to a 52-point loss.

Beveridge said it would be a "cop out" to blame the challenging COVID-19 circumstances on the outcome, and that the Dogs simply didn't handle the ball or the slippery conditions caused by a pre-game shower as well as the slick Pies did.

"We just got beaten out of the centre, our backs were under immediate pressure straight away and then what a tragic night to play in a Western Bulldogs jersey if you're a forward," Beveridge said.

"It was just a real nightmare.”

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The Dogs had registered just two inside 50s by the middle of the second quarter as they fell 48 points behind.

They fought back briefly late in the second quarter to close the gap to 30 points, before the Magpies responded with five goals to one in the second half.

Beveridge said the game wasn't a true reflection of their ability.   

"They're hurting, they're pretty disappointed and gutted," he said.

"You're only as good as your last game and our last two have been pretty ordinary.

"We understand the challenge and we've got to meet it, it's up to us.

"That's the way you never want to start a season for yourselves and your supporters and to come out and be obliterated, it's a really disappointed night.

"It's not alarming because I think we're still more than capable, a lot more capable than we were tonight."

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