Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says Rory Lobb’s spot within the crew ought to now not be questioned after his defensive heroics helped spark an emphatic victory over Geelong.
Beveridge referred to as the win – the Bulldogs’ second in a row over a high 4 facet – a “fairly particular evening” and credited Lobb with “elevating the bar” for his facet’s defensive system.
In solely his fourth recreation as a defender, the 31-year-old had a career-high 21 disposals and took 9 marks as he held Jeremy Cameron to a solitary purpose at GMHBA Stadium.
“(Lobb) appears a pure (defender) … it’s been so tough at instances when he hasn’t been within the crew, as a result of as I’ve mentioned he’s too good a participant, he’s too good knowledgeable and he’s too good a human being,” Beveridge mentioned.
“It doesn’t all the time rely for a lot at choice typically, however I’m simply actually rapt that what he’s doing means his spot within the crew – if he’s match – shouldn’t be questioned.
“We’ve discovered a manner ahead with him, and I like the truth that he’s acquired peace of thoughts, not simply in his footy and in his skilled life, however simply generally.”
Beveridge additionally praised Buku Khamis, Taylor Duryea and first-year Bulldog Nick Coffield for his or her robust performances in a backline nonetheless to regain Liam Jones from a knee damage.
“(Lobb) and Buku had been simply impenetrable. It was a telling key again efficiency. (Lobb) was simply fairly magnificent actually,” he mentioned.
“Rory’s made a distinction – it’s gone to a greater degree, he’s raised the bar a little bit bit, in order that’s promising.
“I assumed we had some excellent performances however everybody was actually complicit and essential within the win, in order that’s the factor that all the time encourages me and our coaches.
“You stroll away, and everybody’s driving again down the freeway feeling like that they had a serious contribution to a fairly particular evening.”
Beveridge mentioned Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (4 objectives) was thriving with a barely adjusted function involving extra time up the bottom, as he mixed properly with Aaron Naughton and Sam Darcy regardless of a scarcity of soccer collectively for the trio since Naughton’s knee damage two months in the past.
“We in all probability spun these guys a bit greater than we normally do due to the situations and the strain recreation we had been after,” Beveridge mentioned of the trio.
“I feel they’ll all be higher subsequent week, Jamarra … you’ll be able to inform his chase, his wish to sort out is there, and that basically helps us … and it was nice to see him get some reward within the final quarter so far as hitting the scoreboard.
“Aside from the Port Adelaide recreation, we’ve been fairly constant. I feel tonight a few of the people (had) development … that’s not all the time linear, subsequent week’s one other problem, however there’s little doubt a few of the lads who haven’t essentially received their positions emphatically over the journey, are gaining confidence that they will in opposition to a few of the finest.”
