As it happened: Dogs obliterate Saints; Crows upset Dees; Freo pip Swans; Blues beat Hawks; Cats down Suns

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge spoke to the media after his side’s thumping victory over St Kilda...

Q: You would have struggled to find any issues at all other than injuries?
A: Yeah, it was a bit of a surprise. As much as we believe in ourselves, I probably didn’t see that coming. Not sure where to start with all of it. I think the telling thing in the end, it wasn’t just the scoreboard, but I think you know, 72 to 48 tackles as well. So, when we didn’t have the ball, we were quite manic, and it is an important part of any aspiring team, to be able to have a good balance in what you do. And so that was - that was, you know, sort of like a combo situation where you have the upper hand on the scoreboard but your defensive aspect was on song. So, that was a critical part of tonight.

Q: Everyone likes to move on quick. Next Friday night, Melbourne, what are your thoughts about that match-up?
A: It is great to be in this position, and I’m sure the Demons think the same. Obviously they will be a bit disappointed they dropped one today, but they have been outstanding all year, and obviously had some challenges with some of their depth and but we played them the week before round 1 and to be honest we put a price on that. We needed to get going, and so we are expecting a little bit of a different Melbourne to what we faced - as much as we were pretty good in that encounter as I said, they have been really impressive. We will have our hands full.

Q: What is the suggestion or what has Treloar done tonight?
A: It is an ankle injury. I think you probably picked that up. I just spoke to our medicos. They will need to assess it. He will be out for a little while.

Q: Are they thinking syndesmosis is a possible?
A: The boys are talking about that. They think it is a low-grade syndesmosis injury, and, yeah, usually that means you are out for a number of weeks. I’m not sure how many.

Q: Does the fact that next week’s game’s here mean much in term of the way you have been able to play - this venue has been pretty emphatic.
A: I don’t think it is necessarily aligned with the venue, we have won in Canberra, we like playing at Adelaide Oval, we love playing at Adelaide Oval, we love playing at Ballarat - we played Brisbane there. We love playing at the ’G - we are one and one there, Collingwood, and we couldn’t get Richmond. Yeah, I think - the thing about this venue, we really enjoy playing at Marvel Stadium. It is an outstanding venue and facility and just the piece of mind, no matter what the conditions outside, you know what you are going to get now we don’t open the roof anymore, and the other week, I think watching North-Collingwood, there is a lot of slipping over out here, and getting your foot on this ground is always a struggle, because, you know, the boys train in certain cleats, and so it presents different challenges. Yeah, it is - we enjoy it, but that’s not to say we don’t love playing elsewhere.

Q: Cody Weightman is only a few games into his career but played a couple of really good games in a row. Is he sort of cementing himself in the side, do you think?
A: It is a bit early to probably hand him the card to say, ‘You have got a free run at it’, but he has been impressive, and, yeah, he did some great stuff tonight, you know. I think they all inspired each other with different things they did. And he had a really good balance in his game tonight Cody. Probably missed a couple of set shots as well. I said before the game - it was difficult last year for every club’s first-year players, being away, in a hub, and not actually having a state league competition, like a bona fide competition we were playing in. We were playing Mickey Mouse round-robin games. You know, we played Gold Coast four times. You imagine they have dreamed of it their whole life and they come into that situation and it became a struggle. But we saw flashes of what he could do in his first outing last year, and now, he is growing up quickly, and, look, I’ve just got to give a shoutout to all our staff and coaches, and all our staff, but the work that they are doing with our players and in our program, it is - there is great synergies there ... Great support for me. The medical staff, everyone working with the players, are doing an enormous job. Players are grateful for that given what you see in the industry, and I think that’s a thing that I’m most worried about as a senior coach, is losing your great people. Precious resources, who do an enormous job with your players and for the club, and support me, you know, to the hilt, and make my life easier, and I think that’s the thing that most of us are paranoid about - is losing great people. That’s when things are going really well as a club. You are still worried about losing great people.

Cody Weightman has made a splash since being recalled last week, and he spoke to Channel Seven after the game...

Q: How good is it to play at home. You haven’t played in Victoria.
A: No, I haven’t. Fifth game today but they have all been in crazy spots. Good to be home to
have the crowd roaring for us instead of against us.

Q: Since coming into the side, you have had nine shots at goal. What were you working on and what were the things that worked your way into this side?
A: That’s a testament of the boys kicking it to me, really. They make it a lot easier for me and the other periods and I might do serious practice goal kicking this week. But it is a good thing for us to put a name on.

Q: What are you hoping for the rest of the year?
A: Build my pressure. My nickname is ‘Flea’, so be a pest. If I can do that, maybe kicks off the back of that and maybe a goal or two here. That’s what I’m trying to pride my game on.

Q: What did you speak to Hunter Clark about?
A: I was just being a pest and I got lucky the umpire gave me a 50 [metre penalty].

Q: How good is it to be able to learn off guys like Bontempelli. What have your learnings been from him?
A: He is huge for me and everyone in the club. He is an unbelievable leader. The list is huge ... The development program - it is such a good place to be and grow your game. I’m just fortunate for the opportunity.

Bailey Dale was one of the Bulldogs’ best tonight and he spoke to Channel Seven after the game...

Q: Bailey Dale, big win on the road last week and 100-plus tonight. Good time to be a Dog.
A: Yeah, we have had a couple of good wins and we are really building our season and rolling with confidence at the moment.

Q: You had plenty of it tonight. Did you get the wink tonight to say you go on the long leash?
A: I think it was just how it worked out. Lucky enough to get on the end of it first half, we set up the game from there.

Q: Settled into the game there and played good footy down back yourself. Where does it come from?
A: More freedom down back at times. You don’t have a runner on you all the time. To be able to run and create with my foot skills, that would be good.

Sons of the west...