WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has played down the animated post-match address he gave his team following the two-point loss to North Melbourne last week.
Reporters overheard the premiership mentor roaring at his charges in the rooms following the heartbreaking defeat, but Beveridge said it was the right time to hammer home the message that the side could have done things better in the dying stages.
"It wasn't really a spray, it was expressing the urgency around the situation with an extra decibel in my voice," Beveridge joked on Wednesday morning.
"Walking down to the rooms, I knew the last two minutes had gone south for us, so it was a really important opportunity to help us all understand, and I think we all did.
"Nothing personal, and there never is.
"It was just a collective 'next time we'll do it better'.
"You haven't got any hard and fast evidence why you won, or didn't win, so you leave it until (you) really review the game intimately.
"This week there's been good conversation with the players around clarity and making sure there's no confusion and making sure we're a bit better (in close games) next time.
"My relationship with our players will never be compromised because I care for them too much."
Hayden Crozier was probably one of the few Bulldogs to escape the constructive criticism dealt out by the coach, but the former Docker, who had one of the best games of his career against the Kangaroos with a starring role in defence, said the feedback the players received was warranted.
"It was a solid spray, but it was well deserved," Crozier told AFL.com.au.
"You could tell when we walked into the room we were going to cop a bake.
"The good thing about it was he did it straight away and good for the guys to get a different angle because in the heat of battle guys make mistakes they didn't realise.
"You just see how strong the demands of AFL footy is because a few mental lapses cost us the game.
"When we're in a situation like that again we'll know what to do."
One of the positives to come out of the clash was the performance of defender-cum-forward Aaron Naughton, with the 18-year-old showing his versatility by kicking two goals and taking several trademark contested marks.
Beveridge will start the impressive West Australian in attack against Geelong at Etihad Stadium on Friday night after he was buoyed by the output of the AFL's second youngest player following five weeks off with an ankle injury.
Naughton and fellow draftee Ed Richards have been pushed forward in recent weeks with promising results, and the moves could become permanent.
"He is such good highest-point marker, and he finished his work pretty well," Beveridge said.
"I thought off a long (injury) break and a young player coming in, he lasted the game (out) pretty well, but (was) a bit fatigued in the end.
"With Aaron, and Ed the previous week (against Port Adelaide), with their nous and skills, little bit of speed, it has really helped us and persist with that for a little while."
And a week after trying to nullify the influence of Brownlow Medal fancy Shaun Higgins, third-year Bulldog Josh Dunkley is likely to spend time on Geelong's dynamic duo Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood.
Beveridge hopes the tough assignments will be the making of the 21-year-old.
"It's a good learning period for Josh because long-term we see him as an inside mid who will hopefully establish himself as an influential player in the game," Beveridge said.
"It's good learning for him to play on some more prolific, stronger midfielders who are (stars) of the competition."
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