High-flying Hayden Crozier says there are two elements the Western Bulldogs must hone in on to rediscover their early season form.
The Dogs were dismantled by Melbourne last Friday night, their run and handball blanketed by the Dees’ full ground press.
“It was a bit of a horror show for us unfortunately,” Crozier lamented on SEN’s Gilly and Goss.
“We really look forward to those challenges, and Melbourne has been the benchmark team this year.
“Melbourne were great, they defended the ground well all game, (but) I honestly don’t think we would have beaten any team, the way we used the ball.”
The 27-year-old detailed the two critical factors the Dogs didn’t bring to the top-of-the-table contest.
“Not only our ball use, but our reaction time off turnover,” he pinpointed.
“When you use the ball the way we did, it’s incredibly hard to defend because the ball is going to be coming straight back in.
“Our ability to get organised once that turnover occurred wasn’t where it’s been all year.”
Fixtured to face Fremantle in Perth this Sunday evening, Luke Beveridge’s side was initially set to head west two days after the Melbourne game.
On the Sunday morning, however, they were sent to Sydney instead, and Crozier says it has made for a smoother run-in.
“If we went to Perth originally we would have had to be in lockdown in the hotel, not being able to leave it all,” he explained.
“In Sydney we’ve been able to be out and around the general public a bit… we’re able to get out and go for walks.
“We’re still fairly restricted in what we can and can’t do, but able to leave the hotel which has been good.”
Sunday will mark the fourth time the Eastern Ranges product has faced his former side.
Crozier played 69 games and kicked 44 goals in purple and white from 2012 to 2017, when he pursued a trade to the Dogs in search of more opportunity.
“It’s been such a changeover since I was there… there’s probably about 10 boys (I played with) that will be playing this weekend,” he estimated.
“All the guys I got drafted with are playing for another team or were moved on.
“There’s certainly still a little bit of banter between the boys which has been nice.”
With the Brisbane Lions on a seven game tear and Geelong breathing over their shoulders, the Dogs will hope to consolidate their top two standing when they face Fremantle from 6:40pm at Optus Stadium.