IN STARK contrast to his predecessor, Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is embracing the growing hype around his young team as they approach a likely finals campaign.
In the three previous seasons, former coach Brendan McCartney would routinely downplay any excitement at Whitten Oval, but in a breath of fresh air, Beveridge and players are revelling in their 2015 achievements.
"The boys are buoyed by what they've been doing and the way they've been playing and they just want to grow that," said Beveridge.
"Just the looks on the supporters' faces and some of the members – everyone is up and about.
"It's great for any football club, let alone an AFL club.
Sitting sixth and fielding an unchanged side for the first time this season, the Dogs have a great chance to cement their spot in the top eight on Sunday against Essendon, and Beveridge admits his attempts to keep his players' minds off September is becoming difficult.
Match preview: Bombers v Bulldogs
"[Finals talk] is just there, isn't it, it's just there," said Beveridge
"There's no use talking about it until we actually earn the right to play and that's what we're endeavouring to do.
"We've definitely got some momentum and it would be a shame for us not to capitalise on how far we've come this year."
And the Dogs' cause will be bolstered in coming weeks with several key players set to return from injury.
Key defenders Fletcher Roberts and Joel Hamling, and versatile ruckman Jordan Roughead are all expected back in the next week or two, while boom recruit Tom Boyd isn't far off a recall.
"We were tempted to bring Tom in; he was the one we were really happy with last week (in the VFL) and he played mostly in the ruck and he was quite outstanding," Beveridge said.
"They've brought (Jake) Carlisle in, so maybe that increases the temptation, but we were happy with our setup last week and the output of our players."
Beveridge insists the 19-year-old took his demotion from the senior side in his stride.
"He's handling it tremendously well," he said.
"As time goes by, the mix of his game will be interesting because he played really well in the ruck last week and we're over the moon with what he's done and he's doing.
"As the weeks and years go on, he will become the colossus our club believes he will be."
