Bulldogs eye two in a row against Saints - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Bulldogs eye two in a row against Saints

By Sam Lienert 07/06/2008 04:17:36 PM Comments (0)

After four years elapsed between their past two victories over St Kilda, the Western Bulldogs are aiming to make it two in nine weeks at Telstra Dome on Sunday.

The Saints have been the Bulldogs' nemesis in recent years, handing them regular drubbings.

But that changed in round three, when the 'Dogs came from 37 points down at the first change, kicking 18 goals to six in the last three quarters to storm home by 38 points.

With a quirk of the draw having the two clubs facing off again just eight rounds later, Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said that loss would be fresh in the Saints' memory.

"They'll be smarting from that," Eade said.

And while there is a wide gulf between the third-placed Bulldogs and ninth-placed Saints on the ladder, the Bulldogs coach said in reality there was not much separating them.

"I think the thing with St Kilda, they've been up and down a little bit, but they're still 5-5, they've still got some quality players and they turned it around (against Melbourne) on the weekend, so it's going to be a tough game," Eade said.

He said one key to the Bulldogs' success this season was their ability to produce similar intensity against each opponent and he was confident there would be no emotional letdown after last Saturday's win over previously unbeaten Hawthorn.

"The pleasing thing with the group on Monday was it was just work as normal," Eade said.

"It was no big celebration, no big fanfare, it was just straight back to work again.

"That was the same the week before when we lost, there was no big down period and there was no big up period this week.

"We've got to be consistent with that.

"It's a pretty tough competition, at the top end anyway, there's five or six, probably seven (teams) that everyone's talking about that are about equal.

"We've got a tough month and we need to perform."

Skipper Brad Johnson said the Bulldogs could not afford to take too much out of their recent victory over the Saints.

"It gives us a bit of confidence, but in saying that, they had a really good start last time against us and we were able to work our way back into the game," he said.

"We're just looking to put four quarters together like we did last week.

"It's a big challenge, they're a great side ... they've had the wood on us the last few years.

"We'll be looking to get another win against them."

The Dogs will be without the suspended Robert Murphy and injured Tim Callan, with debutant Callan Ward and young defender Andrejs Everitt coming into the side, while the Saints are unchanged.

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