The Western Bulldogs disappointing elimination final exit to Adelaide last year has pushed the team forwards to greater success this season says former assistant coach Brett Montgomery.
He says that the pain of dissecting that defeat at the MCG to Crows made the playing group realise how easily fixable the club’s problems were.
“There was a lot in that game, whether it was the way we were opened up or the way we used the footy or the 40 or 50 missed opportunities we highlighted through that time,” he said on SEN’s Crunch Time.
“It was a really painful time for the guys to go through but it was extremely important for them to do, mainly to see how good they could be and how fixable those problems were.”
Montgomery says that the club have in particular reinforced their defence, considering it to currently be at an all-time high.
“I think they’ve shored up a lot of things. Their defence is obviously at its all-time best, which is only a fifth of their scoring which did go through about a 10 week drought so we’ve seen them return to probably some of their better form when it comes to scoring off the back of a great defence,” he said.
Montgomery also touched on the positivity of the players during the club’s horrific run with injuries this season.
“There was never any talk about who’d be going out, there was a lot of talk about who was coming in and how seamless those players were in filling those roles would be and how across the roles at such a high level they’d be able to execute those roles” he said.
“That’s where the dialogue was and that’s where all the talk was. You’ve got the give full credit to Bevo and Bob Murphy to be able to manufacture that vibe and that belief throughout the group.”
Montgomery says that his own future is yet to be determined after parting way with the Bulldogs at the end of the home and away season.
He says that the decision to leave the club was a mutual one, and that he will take on the experiences gained under Luke Beveridge forward into his next role.
‘I think I’ve probably had contact with half a dozen great coaches through my journey. Bevo is someone who I’ve taken a hell of a lot away from and I would like to see some of that filter in to the way I coach and in particular the style of play,” Montgomery said.
“I think you only have to go to a Bulldogs game and most people will attest to it being a passionate way to play the game, it’s an exhilarating way to play the game that players really warm to.
“There’s no doubt the relationships built with Luke and his playing group, a lot of it surrounds the type of game he has developed for them and the type of game he allows them to play so that’d definitely be one thing I’m taking with me.”
While Montgomery refused to comment on what positions he is looking at, he says that he will continue to develop his skills during his time between clubs.
“As long as I’m moving and developing forward in whatever skillset that I need to have or I’m short, in that next 12 months to position yourself,” he said.
“I think that any coach that has aspirations needs to be going forward and topping up their skillsets so they’re in a position when that opportunity does present itself that you’re ready to go.”