Vice-captain Mitch Wallis marked his return to the Western Bulldogs’ starting 22 with an important three-goal performance against North Melbourne.
The 28-year-old had returned to the senior side as the medical sub in the Bulldogs’ previous two matches and was added to the team as a late inclusion for Ed Richards (illness) on Sunday.
Wallis finished the night with 12 disposals and three goals, helping to stem the tide amidst a late charge from the Kangaroos at Marvel Stadium.
Senior coach Luke Beveridge acknowledged Wallis’ impact in recent weeks.
“Mitch was important for us last week. Everything he did, everything he touched against West Coast turned to goal,” he said post-game.
“In the first instance, he was unfortunate to be the 23rd (initially)… he did enough when he came on last week to warrant a spot in the 22.
“It was good to be able to play him and get him going in a full game. At different stages he was important with some of his forward pressure.
“For him to be quite clutch in that last quarter and convert for us when they had some momentum and some control of the game, it was great for him and important for us.”
Wallis was the Bulldogs’ leading goal-kicker in 2020, reinventing himself as a strong, marking target inside forward 50.
But with the addition of experienced ruckman Stefan Martin to complement Tim English – plus key forwards Josh Bruce and Aaron Naughton both fit and firing – Wallis was pushed out of the team after round two and forced to bide his time at VFL level.
Beveridge acknowledged Wallis could have an important role in the coming weeks.
Martin remains sidelined by a groin injury, while Naughton was ruled out mid-game against the Kangaroos due to concussion.
“Mitch could play a similar role today (to last year),” Beveridge said.
“When you consider at the start of the year we had Stef, Tim, Naughts and Brucey, probably that deeper role he played here and there dried up a little bit.
“Maybe because of injury (to others) we might play him there a little bit more, we’ll see how we go.”
