Matthew Lloyd still has reservations about the Bulldogs’ premiership prospects, despite a potent display against fellow finals fancies Melbourne in their AAMI Community Series meeting on Monday afternoon.
Luke Beveridge’s side kicked six goals to one in the third quarter to set up a 39-point win over the Dees, with Marcus Bontempelli and fringe midfielder Patrick Lipinski driving the result.
“The talent is all across one area, in my opinion. At either end…” Lloyd pondered on Sportsday.
“I’ve still got big questions on (Ryan) Gardner as a key defender. Alex Keath to me is a good player but he’s not to the level of some key defenders at top four teams.
“Down the other end, you’ve got (Aaron) Naughton who is very injury-prone and a 50 game player who has hardly kicked any goals at AFL level.”
Naughton started in imperious form, hauling down a contested mark on the wing, but failed to resurface after the long break with a corked arm.
“The pre-season mail out of there is that he’s flying, but still today he got himself injured,” Lloyd lamented.
“Then you’ve got Josh Bruce who has been hopelessly out of form since he’s been there.”
A slimmer Bruce snaffled six marks and kicked two goals, and appears set to feature regularly with a long-term approach favoured for No. 1 selection Jamarra Ugle-Hagan.
Lloyd acknowledged the depth of the Dogs’ midfield rotation, but said his key position concerns manifested across their practice matches.
“In defence, Hawthorn picked them apart in a practice match last week, and (Jake) Lever and (Steven) May marked everything (on Monday),” he explained.
“That’s their big query.”