David King and Kane Cornes both believe the Western Bulldogs need to find another option in attack.
Aaron Naughton is clearly the focal point and delivered in their Round 1 loss to Melbourne on Wednesday night, kicking four of the side’s 11 goals and taking six marks.
Aside from Naughton, there wasn’t much else to be excited by from a forward line point of view.
It prompted King to ponder what may be the best setup for Luke Beveridge inside attacking 50 and in his opinion, playing captain Marcus Bontempelli there is not the solution.
“Naughton is the answer forward of centre,” he said on SEN Breakfast.
“Does he need another wingman down there? There’s no easy answer, there’s no easy option.
“I don’t subscribe that you can take Bontempelli from the midfield and put him forward.”
King was not convinced by Josh Schache’s performance against the Demons and wonders if Zaine Cordy is wasted as a forward.
“I’m probably concerned about the role for Schache and the role for Cordy,” he added.
“You’re not desperate in round two, but do you need to have a look at another option?
“The Cordy thing, for me, doesn’t work with him down there. I don’t know what he offers forward. Have you seen him do anything as a forward?”
Cornes also feels there is a conundrum in attack for the Dogs, concurring with King’s sentiment regarding Bontempelli.
He suggested that perhaps they could look to fellow midfielder Josh Dunkley to present as an option.
He replied: “No, but what else have they got?
“It’s a dilemma on what to do.
“I don’t see him (Bontempelli) as a forward, I see him doing his damage from the midfield forward. I didn’t see him doing as much damage starting forward.
“They started Libba (Tom Liberatore) forward with interesting results.
“I’d play Dunkley forward.
“I think you can afford to lose Dunkley out of the midfield, they’ve got enough numbers through there, and I think he can probably kick you 25 goals for the year. He’s good enough to do that.
“That’s why maybe a smaller forward line and Dunkley as a target. He’s done it before.”
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As a potential answer, the Dogs could simply go with no.1 draft pick Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and let him develop in the senior side.
But Cornes says he must not be ready at this early stage.
“He must be miles off, to the point where this is a long-term guy for them for the next 12 years,” he said.
“It must be detrimental to play him. We saw what happened to Jack Watts when he played when he wasn’t ready.
“That must be the discussion they’re having over Ugle-Hagan, otherwise he plays.
“He must just be miles off and I’m not going to be critical of Luke Beveridge for not playing a player that he doesn’t think is ready.”
Despite their loss to the Demons, Cornes is not concerned about last year’s runners-up, confident they’ll be fine in 2022.
“They’re going to play at Marvel, they’re going to be almost impossible to beat there with the way that they move the ball,” Cornes added.
“I’m not that concerned about the Dogs. I think they’ll be ok.
“And I thought it was an improved performance from Tim English in the ruck. I thought he got the better of Max Gawn.”
The Bulldogs will be eager to recoil when they take on Carlton at Marvel Stadium on Thursday night.