THERE is still plenty of life in the Western Bulldogs season despite the body blows they have received in the past two weeks, according to sharp-shooting forward Tory Dickson.
He said the losses of forward Jack Redpath and key midfield pair Mitch Wallis and Tom Liberatore to injury in successive weeks was obviously disappointing, but the team remains steadfast in the belief they can be a key player in this year's finals.
"We have guys who can come in and fill a void," Dickson told AFL.com.au.
"There are four or five games to go and we really have to keep the faith for the last part of the year."
Dickson said the Dogs' 25-point loss was bitterly disappointing, particularly given their performance before Liberatore's ankle injury and Jackson Macrae's hamstring put them out of the game.
"The boys did fight it out but it is bitterly disappointing," Dickson said.
The Bulldogs were gallant and were dominating the game around stoppages until midway through the third quarter when Geelong wrested control.
The Cats went into three-quarter time with a 27-point lead, and while the Dogs fought hard in the final term, they could not bridge the gap.
"We had belief we could get the job done if we did the basics really well," Dickson said.
"There are a few very tired boys and it is a credit to them running the game out. While a four-goal loss is respectable but that is not what we came here to do."
The Western Bulldogs now sit seventh on the ladder with games against North Melbourne, Collingwood, Essendon and Fremantle remaining before the finals.
They have used 37 players this season, a number more than any other top-eight team and a tally only fewer than six of the seven bottom teams on the ladder.
But Dickson is staying positive.
"There are finals still to come and we're going to get a few boys back," Dickson said.
"There is real belief in these boys."
