THE WESTERN Bulldogs will do more to protect star playmaker Jason Johannisen if he's physically targeted as he was against the Sydney Swans last week.

The Norm Smith medalist finished the game with just nine possessions and little impact after being bumped and harassed from siren to siren by Swan George Hewett and a host of teammates.

The Bulldogs face Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, and Demons coach Simon Goodwin has forecast his side could employ similar tactics to negate Johannisen's influence.

Teammate Lachie Hunter said the Dogs would be on guard to protect the 23-year-old.

"Yeah, (we could have helped him more), he obviously copped a fair bit," Hunter said on Thursday.

"We did try and help him, and to a certain extent it drags people out of position.

"It wasn't one of (Jason's) better games, and we'll look to protect him – and anyone else – who that happens to this week."

Hunter says the tactic shook up the out-of-contract West Australian, but it also proved just how much time opposition clubs are putting into curbing his impact.

"(It affected him) to a certain extent, but he's a real dangerous player – it's a feather in his cap that he's targeted by other teams," Hunter said.

"He'll learn from that … that's probably one of the first times he's got it that hard and hopefully he can bounce back.

"He is a (resilient person). His strengths are his outside run, his speed, but the physical side of the game is something he can work on as well."

While he put down the 46-point loss to the Swans to a "off night", Hunter conceded it was one of the worst performances the side had put in during Luke Beveridge's three-year tenure.

The coach took the blame for the uncharacteristic showing, but Hunter said the players were just as guilty. 

"It was really disappointing going up there for a game that was pretty crucial," he said.

"We're the ones out on the field."