SEN footy analyst David Schwarz believes infighting is derailing the Western Bulldog’s season.
After falling out of the top eight following a disastrous loss to Melbourne, the Dogs are in danger of becoming the first side since Hawthorn in 2009 to miss finals a year after holding the premiership cup aloft.
Schwarz believes the Dogs’ problems extend beyond the onfield troubles that underpinned the 10-goal loss to Melbourne.
“There are players down there that aren’t seeing eye-to-eye on a number of issues, and some of them aren’t footy related,” Schwarz told SEN’s The Run Home.
“There are other players down there accusing other players of things, whether that be goalkicking or decision-making.
“You go through these things at sporting clubs but it is rare that happens on the back of a premiership given they’ve been so united and so well oiled.
“But they’ve got some things they need to work out.”
Melbourne’s 113 points in Sunday’s mauling was the highest score the reigning premier has conceded since Round 23, 2015. Not since Rounds 15 and 16 of 2015 has the side registered back-to-back totals lower than 60 points.
Schwarz said there were two options open to a club sliding down the ladder at a rate of knots.
“If its personality, and they’re not happy with each other, they’ll sit in a room and work it out or they’ll move one on because they need to fix it.
“Luke Beveridge doesn’t put up with rubbish. So whatever it is, and whoever is expendable, will probably be moved on. They won’t let this linger for too long.”
The future of rebounding defender Jason Johannisen remains a talking point given the Norm Smith Medallist’s unwillingness to commit to the club.
Johannisen again came under close physical attention in yesterday's defeat, after being held to just nine disposals in the loss to Sydney the previous week.
The Bulldogs host North Melbourne and West Coast at Etihad Stadium in coming weeks before a trip west to tackle Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval.