Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has explained the reason behind dropping veteran defender Liam Jones for this weekend's clash with GWS, stating the Dogs "haven't seen his real strengths" early into the season.
Jones was sensationally axed from Beveridge's side as the Dogs prepare to take on a lethal Giants front third that includes Coleman Medal winner Jesse Hogan, former No.1 pick Aaron Cadman, captain Toby Greene and recruit Jake Stringer.
The Bulldogs have named former first-round selection Jedd Busslinger for his first AFL game, with Rory Lobb and Buku Khamis named to start in defence alongside the debutant.
Jones, who finished fourth in the club's 2024 best and fairest count, will play for Footscray this weekend instead of making the trip to Canberra, with Beveridge explaining the call to drop his oldest player.
"It's pretty simple with Liam, we just haven't seen his real strengths shine through in recent times," Beveridge told media on Friday.
"He had a fair layoff with his hamstring in the lead-up to the year, he came back in and was reasonably solid in his first one back. I spent half an hour with him (on Thursday) and we discussed all those things.
"He knows what they are. The fundamentals of his game and the essentials that he brings forth that fuel a presence - and even a key back intercept game that he's had historically - just haven't quite been there for him and for us to start this year.
"Hopefully he can find those reasonably quickly and he's not playing for Footscray for too long."
Busslinger could go head-to-head with his fellow 2022 draftee Cadman, with Lobb a chance to take on Hogan when facing his old side, with the debutant a chance to show his value as an interceptor in helping quell the Giants spearhead.
Speaking on Busslinger, Beveridge said the young tall has strengthened the defensive side of his game after emerging as a prolific ball winner behind the ball.
"We knew it was going to take a while," Beveridge said of Busslinger's journey to a debut.
"Over the course of last season we saw him start to establish real growth as he became stronger and more acclimatised to playing state league footy against bigger bodies and experienced guys at that level.
"He likes to get the footy, he accumulates a lot of ball. But we saw his defensive game start to shine at the start of this year and at the back of last year.
"Is he totally ready? It remains to be seen. It's going to be a challenge. We've asked him to go out and play to his strengths.
"He'll have his work cut out, but hopefully we can minimise their entrees."
The Bulldogs and Giants will clash at Manuka Oval at 7:35pm (AEST) on Saturday night.
