When the Western Bulldogs paid way above what most believed a reasonable price for the signature of crack young spearhead Tom Boyd last trade period, the pressure was applied immediately.
Boyd would need to produce instant results to lift the Bulldogs from the bottom six on the ladder and for points scored, not to mention front up every week.
That hasn't happened, the former Giant's returns modest at best with only 16 goals in his 14 games before being dropped for last week's clash with Collingwood. But rather than major embarrassment, Boyd's omission caused barely a blip on the radar. That was because the Bulldogs, suddenly, had plenty to fall back upon. Medium-sized forwards Jake Stringer and forward Dickson have helped see to that with more than 60 goals between them, so effective that another big-name recruit in Stewart Crameri recently spent three weeks in the VFL. But that depth is being replicated all over the ground this season. And with each passing week, a playing list remarkable for its even spread of talent is becoming a very handy weapon indeed.
The numbers are telling. The Bulldogs this season have had just four players – skipper Bob Murphy, Jason Johannisen, Dickson and Luke Dahlhaus – play every game.
Stability of line-up has traditionally been a key indicator of success, but Gold Coast are the only team which has had fewer players turn out every week. And with the obvious exception of Hawthorn, the other sides with fewest are also occupying the lower reaches of the ladder.
With half-a-dozen debutants, the Bulldogs are also second only to Gold Coast for blooding fresh talent. But the flexibility at selection coach Luke Beveridge has actively encouraged has been apparent every Thursday evening.
For the past four rounds, the Bulldogs have averaged more than three changes to their 22 per game, the sort of numbers you'd expect of a side losing games and searching desperately for the right combination.
But the Dogs haven't looked any less settled for it. In fact, there's been plenty of changes not forced through injury, Boyd joined on the omissions list by the likes of Michael Talia, Lukas Webb and Bailey Dale.
Jordan Roughead has played some good football in the ruck, but even with his loss through injury for the clash with the Magpies, Beveridge wasn't panicked enough to rush veteran Will Minson back from injury, Minson instead cooling his heels in the reserves while Tom Campbell held the fort.
Two weeks ago, the Bulldogs lost rapidly improving defender Fletcher Roberts, yet still dropped another backman in Talia, the latter last week returning when Roughead was out. Remember how best and fairest winner Tom Liberatore's pre-season knee injury was supposed to be the death-knell for the Bulldogs' midfield? It's a midfield which has managed to more than hold its own, the Bulldogs currently ranked third in the competition for tackles, fifth for contested ball and seventh for clearances. All the while affording to deploy a one-time midfield stalwart in Matthew Boyd to a half-back flank with great effect.
Another former lockdown player in Liam Picken has headed outside the clinches to become just as effective as a more free-running outside midfielder, currently averaging more than 24 disposals per game. But he's just one of nine Bulldogs racking up 20 touches or more.
So well has the engine room ticked over that earlier this season, Beveridge made what seemed a brave call and dropped Jack Macrae to the reserves for two games after some poor defensive efforts. The demotion worked, Macrae a very solid contributor since.
Last week's win over Collingwood was a perfect example of the evenness of talent Beveridge now has at his disposal, even in a team containing no fewer than 13 players with less than 50 games under their belt.
The votes for that game said it all. Lachie Hunter, in just his sixth game of the season, was a clear best-on-ground. Shane Biggs, in only his third, wasn't far behind.
This week, Roughead, Roberts and Joel Hamling could all return from injury, while Nathan Hrovat and Mitch Honeychurch are also pushing for a promotion. Beveridge might as a result have had some long selection meetings ahead of Sunday's game against Essendon. But with manpower becoming an issue for many of his rivals as the season begins to take a toll, it's a pretty pleasant problem to be dealing with.
Doing more with less
Club Used / Ply All / Debuts
Richmond 36 12 6
West Coast 34 11 5
Fremantle 28 11 1
Essendon 37 10 2
Nth Melbourne 33 9 1
Collingwood 33 9 3
Adelaide 32 9 4
Port Adelaide 35 8 2
Geelong Cats 33 8 4
Melbourne 37 7 6
GWS Giants 34 7 2
Sydney Swans 31 7 3
Brisbane Lions 36 6 4
St Kilda 35 6 5
Carlton 40 4 6
Western Bulldogs 36 4 6
Hawthorn 33 4 2
Gold Coast 40 3 7
