TOUGH, hard and fearless football is something critics haven't always associated with the Western Bulldogs in recent years.

In 2006, when the Dogs last made the finals, they were regarded as fast and exciting, but still lacking that physical presence to take them to the next step.

A year later, things looked even grimmer on the physical side of things as the Dogs slumped to a spot in the bottom four. But all that is now well and truly in the past.

The Bulldogs of 2008 appear tougher, harder and faster. One man who’s epitomised that is Matthew Boyd, whose attack on the football and an unwillingness to concede an inch to opponents has him rapidly rising in the estimation of the Bulldog faithful.

“It’s something we’ve been working on during the pre-season and the off-season, and it’s an area that we focussed on really heavily, so if we can maintain that intensity and be physical against everyone we play, it’s a good thing,” Boyd says.

“We've been seen as a more outside running side [in the past], so if we can add that part into our game it's a real positive for us.

“I think we’ve got more confidence in our bodies that we can play a more contested and physical style of game, and that gives us confidence.”

The Bulldogs brand of uncompromising footy has surprised almost every opponent they’ve come across thus far, and it’s undoubtedly been a major factor in their swift rise to the top of the table.

While some attention has been put on Boyd’s tagging tactics, the man himself says he’s got to put up with his own share of blocking and buffeting from opposition midfielders.

“I do know what it's like to have guys run into you all day because you're running with a key midfielder,” Boyd says.

“The opposition tries their hardest to get their key players (free) and block for them, so I get the physical attention as well.”

“But that's part and parcel of the game and everyone puts up with it."

The midfielder admits he applied a close check on Daniel Kerr last weekend, but knows that in the modern day midfield, a tight leash on a key midfielder is critical to winning the battle of the engine room.

“Obviously Kerr is a great player and you have to do some things to stop those sorts of players but I don't think what I have done is any different to what other players do,” he says.

“Everyone sees the game a different way, and the coaches see it different from how the players see it. I am not too concerned about (John Worsfold’s comments). We were hard, tough and physical and that is something we haven't been in previous years.”

“I suppose it’s a positive that we’re being seen as tougher and harder this year.”