AMID all the vitriol and passionate views surrounding the booing of Scott Pendlebury on Anzac Day, Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says he sees the lighter side of the hot topic.
Collingwood's captain Pendlebury received his third Anzac Medal for a best-on-ground performance in a nailbiting win against traditional rival Essendon and was jeered by opposition supporters in his acceptance speech, prompting a strong defence from coach Nathan Buckley.
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Beveridge believes booing is an unfortunate reality in football and there's an element of preciousness in the reaction.
The game is tribal, supporters of both teams are there absolutely emotionally drained at the end of the game. Booing is part of the game, it's not ideal but it's just there - Luke Beveridge
"We've become a bit of a nanny state," Beveridge said at Melbourne Airport on Friday.
"Pendles is a champion and so is Bucks, but I must admit I did have a chuckle after Bucks sort of challenged whoever was booing. They showed the Essendon crowd and the response was a harder boo. It was funny, I see the lighter side of it.
"The game is tribal, supporters of both teams are there absolutely emotionally drained at the end of the game. Booing is part of the game, it's not ideal but it's just there."
Preparing for an interstate trip to face Fremantle on Saturday night, the Dogs have tinkered with their line-up and selected Jackson Trengove for his first game of 2019. The experienced utility is expected to assist ruckman Tim English, while providing another backline option.
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"Early in the year we didn't feel like the 50-50 ruck thing was working for us," Beveridge said.
"We went a different way and it kind of worked for us early. Now we feel like we need at least one more tall in to support either end really and to give Tim (English) a chop out as well. Well, as far as strategy goes, start a certain way and hopefully that works out."
Young ruckman Tim English will get some help for the Dogs' clash with Freo. Picture: AFL Photos
"But you'll see some change where players are playing forward and back to make sure we galvanise our defence."
Injury-cursed midfielder Lin Jong was present at the club on Thursday following time in hospital with appendicitis, an issue that was somewhat unique according to Beveridge.
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"It's interesting (with) 'Jongy.' His symptoms with the appendix are a bit different because of the makeup of him internally, he's a little bit different to all of us," he said.
"It's pretty dangerous where you're having an appendix that's pretty nasty. He's had it taken out, he's on the recovery trail (and) was in at the club yesterday.
"He looked good within himself, hopefully it doesn't take him too long to get back to playing."
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