WESTERN Bulldogs caretaker coach Paul Williams says he will definitely apply for the vacant senior role at the club.
Williams, who officially took over from Rodney Eade on Thursday and presided over his first training session on Friday morning, said he was only interested in the main role at Whitten Oval and would not apply for either of the other vacant senior coaching jobs at Melbourne or Adelaide.
"It's probably the best work experience anyone can get, so I'm very indebted to the club for giving me the opportunity," he said after training.
"I believe [in] my apprenticeship - the coaches I've had have all played in premierships as a coach or a player.
"I know what you need to do for success and what you have to sacrifice, and I think I've got a great knowledge base in terms of that."
Williams said the coaching panel would "tweak a few things" over the remaining three games but would not look to "reinvent the wheel" against Port Adelaide, Hawthorn and Fremantle.
While he said he felt the team's current game plan was modern enough, despite questions raised regarding Eade's style this week, Williams admitted he would instigate more of a focus on the defensive side of things and on giving key roles to young players.
"I'll make sure the guys actually play with the intensity that's needed," he said.
"I'm very comfortable with the way my game plan will stack up, but I need a whole six months to actually implement it correctly."
Club president David Smorgon said on Wednesday the club needed to be "refreshed" with a new coach, but his revelation didn't concern Williams, despite the fact he had been part of the Eade regime since 2009.
"The one thing is, as an assistant, you get the chance to put some bit on a side but you don't get the chance to put your whole flavour in," he said.
"I've followed Rodney and everything that he's wanted to do, I've implemented it, and I've backed him 100 per cent.
"Now, I get a chance to do it my way."
Williams said he had spoken to Eade three times since the mid-week announcement, and had been given the advice to do things "his way" across the "small sample" of football left this season.
He also said there would be no animosity between him and Hawthorn assistant Leon Cameron, who has been reported as favourite for the job, should it go his way.
"I'm friendly with Leon, no doubt, and we've got no problem whatsoever and we're quite good mates," he said.
"Whichever way things go, they go."
Williams announced the Dogs would play three debutants on Sunday, with Ayce Cordy and Jason Tutt to play their first AFL games as expected, and former Sydney Swan Patrick Veszpremi to run out for his second club after being named in Thursday night's extended squad.
He also said the Dogs expected a fierce contest from Port Adelaide, which has endured a torrid two weeks with record losses to Collingwood and Hawthorn, given the tough week the club had endured with frank and open discussions regarding player commitment.
Jennifer Witham covers Western Bulldogs news for the AFL Website. Follow her on Twitter @AFL_JenWitham.
