Jack Macrae has urged his fellow Western Bulldogs midfielders to undertake a “selfless” strategy as a key plank of their plan to fireplace the membership into AFL premiership rivalry.
The Bulldogs have added gun recruit Adam Treloar to an on-ball division that was already so robust that Josh Dunkley requested to be traded out of the membership final November in the hunt for larger midfield alternative.
Dunkley in the end stayed at Whitten Oval and shall be joined by Treloar alongside Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore, Bailey Smith, Lachie Hunter, Macrae and others within the rotation this season.
Macrae has his eyes firmly on a repeat of the Canine’ premiership success from 5 years in the past and believes a team-first mentality shall be essential to their possibilities.
The 26-year-old stated the lengthy listing of midfield specialists shall be required to play totally different positions and take a again seat at instances to permit teammates to shine to ensure that the unit to operate successfully.
“We will need to adapt a bit and be versatile and in addition a bit selfless at instances as nicely,” Macrae stated.
“Successful is the last word precedence and we’re all going to need to lean on one another all year long.
“If we’re all on the identical web page it’ll work very well.
“All of us provide totally different strengths that actually complement one another.
“It labored very well up to now. Again in 2016 it was our mannequin the place we might all share the load a bit extra and look to play nicely as a staff quite than simply individually.”
Treloar battled persistent calf tightness in the course of the pre-season however was excellent in a reserves apply match final week.
He’s set to make his Bulldogs debut towards his former membership on the MCG on Friday night time, having successfully been pressured out of Collingwood in the course of the commerce interval.
“There is a bit extra feeling there with Adam and we will do our greatest to win for him but additionally for our followers and ourselves as nicely,” Macrae stated.
“There could be a bit of warmth in it, particularly for him, however we’re simply centered on beginning the season very well.”
Loads of water has handed below the bridge since Collingwood belted the Bulldogs in spherical one final yr, earlier than the 2020 season was thrown into chaos by the coronavirus pandemic.
However the 52-point shellacking nonetheless sticks in Canine’ collective reminiscence financial institution.
“It was one of many worst video games that I have been concerned in, to be trustworthy,” Macrae stated.
“We did not deliver the depth that we needed to and it was a bitterly disappointing night time.
“After that we did not play footy for a very long time, so we sat on that efficiency.
“We’re eager to point out that we’re a greater membership than that.”
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