Source :- THE AGE NEWS
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Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has thrown the challenge down to those supporters who “malign” utility Lachie McNeil after he went down with a concussion tonight.
Beveridge was beaming after another clutch win and the performances of lesser-known defenders like Nick Coffield and Michael Sellwood.
But Beveridge also spoke up for McNeil, who performs a vital role in the side with his versatility.
“[When it comes to] Lachie McNeil, losing him early [was massive], but he’s so versatile,” Beveridge said.
“I know he is much-maligned by our supporters, which, to be honest, pisses me off because he is such a great team man and he’s a glue because he plays so many roles.
“We became unstable with him off and Tim English off to get his cut fixed up. It took us a while to settle.”
Hawks coach Sam Mitchell is disappointed his side couldn’t finish more of their chances tonight.
The Hawks kicked 1.11 in the second half as the Bulldogs came back from 29 points down to win.
“Goal kicking [was a massive issue], obviously,” Mitchell said.
“They took their chances. They are a really good side. There was a fair bit of heat in the game, and I assume it was a pretty good game to watch.
Perhaps Nick Watson didn’t know who he was messing with when he challenged Michael Sellwood to “walk the walk” in the second half tonight.
Sellwood came up with some clutch spoils and defensive plays, while Watson failed to add to his three goals after half-time.
“If some of those spoils don’t come off, then he would have been front and centre and probably kicking a goal and giving it to me,” Sellwood told Kayo Sports.
“I was caught holding the ball and I looked around and was hoping it wasn’t him as I knew he would give it to me. But it was a good challenge, and we got around each other after the game – he was cool like that.”
Bulldogs ruckman Tim English has battled several concussions in recent times.
English left the field for a time tonight after contact to his head, but it was mostly to tend to his nose and a cut on his face.
“It just puts my modelling career on hold,” English said with a smile on Kayo Sports.
Bulldogs defender Nick Coffield has missed a lot of footy through injury in recent years, but he came up big in the last term with some huge defensive moments, including a clutch spoil and break away to stop a Hawthorn foray forward.
“I got lucky with [the] one the middle … but the composure of the boys throughout the whole last quarter was awesome,” Coffield told Seven.
Marcus Bontempelli paid tribute to Coffield for his work.
“[He was] huge,” Bontempell told Seven.
“If you are going to win these matches, you have to win those moments.”
Bulldogs defender Michael Sellwood has become a club hero in just a handful of games and his captain Marcus Bontempelli already sees traits from some greats in his defensive work.
Sellwood recovered from Nick Watson kicking three goals in the first half to shut him down despite close attention from the Hawks.
“He’s made like that, Michael,” Bontempelli told Kayo Sports.
“Really quickly, he has become one of our more reliable players in about 10 games and that comes with those guys who join late as they have to make the most of every opportunity.
“He reminds me of some of the guys I’ve played with in the past like Liam Picken, guys who have this unbelievable courage and keep going about their business.
“One of the toughest tasks in football is playing on Nick Watson. He’s so nippy, he challenges every mistake you make and he’s an unbelievable finisher but I thought Michael had some amazing moments getting in the way and spoiling, especially with what he did last week.”
Bulldogs star Ed Richards said the “chirp” from the Hawks helped inspire his side to fightback and win their match at the MCG this evening.
Nick Watson, Jack Ginnivan and James Sicily led the talking, but the Dogs reared up in the second half and took an invaluable win, one that brings them within two points of the Hawks on the ladder.
“That’s the stuff that wins close ones – unbelievable,” Richards told Kayo Sports.
“They’ve had the wood over us for ages. They probably helped us out with some bad kicking, but that’s footy.
“They started to get a bit chirpy, a bit niggly, and we thought that we couldn’t just sit there and take it. We had to fight back, and we did.
“It was good fun in the end. We needed a win against this mob as it has been a while.”
The Bulldogs have pulled off one hell of a comeback, keeping the Hawks to just one goal in the second half to overcome a 29-point deficit and win by a straight kick.
Will Day had a late snap for goal that fell short and Mabior Chol rushed a kick which went out on the full.
Marcus Bontempelli was brilliant, Tim English too, while the likes of Nick Coffield and Michael Sellwood were also crucial in their specific roles.
The Hawks dared them to walk the walk, and they did just that.
