No team in the AFL is ever exempt from external pressure and the Western Bulldogs are no different, Brendan McCartney says.

“There’s always pressure,” McCartney said.

“There’s pressure on Port Adelaide to stay at the top, there’s pressure on teams near the bottom to get up the ladder, there’s pressure on teams outside the eight to get in, there’s pressure on people in the eight.

“It’s the business, it’s the game, I think I’ve said the last few weeks – it is what it is.”

While more focused on the task at hand, McCartney said the feedback he had received recently was worthwhile and that it made him more driven to keep progressing the Club.

“People have an opinion, they are entitled to have an opinion,” he said.

“All I ever ask is that people’s opinions are based around fact, perspective and understanding that all clubs go through patches in a season, some go through more than one season.

“I listen to it, dissect it. A lot of it is useful to be honest.

“A lot of it serves to just make me and a lot of people here more determined to keep fighting and build a great Club here and answer some people.”

McCartney said the Bulldogs are adamant to stay the course and while there are areas to address, he is convinced the right personnel are in place to take the Club forward.

“We are still really confident of where we are going and even more certain of how to get there,” he said.

“Inconsistency has hurt us and that is my challenge, the coaches’ challenge and the older players to help the younger players. We’re up to it.”