AN IMPROVED conversion rate up forward, including a six-goal haul from Liam Picken, was the catalyst for the Western Bulldogs' 54-point win over Gold Coast in Cairns, says coach Luke Beveridge.
Needing a win to keep their chances of going back-to-back alive, the reigning premiers held sway for most the game against an injury-ravaged and defensively-minded Suns outfit.
Aside from conceding the first three goals, and letting the Suns get within one point in the third quarter, Beveridge was satisfied with the Picken-inspired performance that included eight other goal kickers.
"'Picko' influenced that area quiet significantly, but besides that we needed a bit of a spread with (several other goal kickers) in the end," Beveridge said post-match.
"It's been a while since one of our players kicked six, I think Tory Dickson kicked seven against Fremantle a couple of years ago, and I think Jake (Stringer) has kicked the five (goals twice) over the journey.
"We ran some hard patterns as forwards, transitioned reasonably quickly on turnover and it looked okay."
Five talking points: Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast
With the Dogs looking to attack where possible, and the Suns trying to limit the damage with a young and experienced side, Beveridge did lament his side's ball use when the Suns used skipper Tom Lynch as a loose man in defence in the second quarter.
"It was a tough (game) with them trying to minimalise scores, and influence the game a different way to what we were," he said.
WATCH: Luke Beveridge's full post-match press conference
WATCH: Picken's record haul at Cazaly's
"There was a bit of stalemate at times, we obviously kick it to their extra number a little bit in the second quarter.
"We worked our way through that nicely in the last quarter, so that was encouraging.
"We picked out Lynch a few times as their loose man behind the ball, until we got Zaine (Cordy) in that area and equalised that a little bit better."
With a 9-8 record and out of the eight on percentage, the Dogs face a huge clash with an in-form Essendon at Etihad Stadium next week, before difficult assignments against Greater Western Sydney, Port Adelaide and Hawthorn.
