Luke Beveridge has showered utility Rory Lobb in praise for the crafty veteran's team-first attitude, as the club navigates an injury crisis.
In the wake of the Bulldogs' close win over the favoured Demon, Beveridge revealed text messages from the 33-year-old that encapsulate his willingness to put team performance before the need to play his preferred position.
Beveridge is aware that may surprise the general footy public, given Lobb's brash runs with fans in recent years, but he offered a different lens to the the man affectionately known as "Lobby".
"He's just such a great team player, Rory," Beveridge told Fox Footy's AFL360.
"He's made a huge impact on our football club since he's been here.
"The night that Tim (English) was injured - I think it was against Essendon - as I drove out of Marvel (Stadium) I got a text message from "Lobby" that said "I'll do whatever you want me to, I'll play in the ruck if you need me."
"And that's the kind of guy he is. People might be surprised by that if you don't really know him, but he is the ultimate team player and he'll keep going to the well for us."
Beveridge also expressed the team's need to find another player to aid their 'shut it down' tactics at the end of close games, offering that the currently-injured Bailey Williams is usually player anointed that responsibility.
"(Late against the Demons) we stayed pretty calm. The foundations of how to finish a game are there. The circumstances around who does what based on how the game's unfolded are quite significant.
"One of the key pawns has always been Bailey Williams, because he's a wing-backman, so we usually use him as a layer, a lever, an extra backman, (but due to his injury) we had to find someone else (to do that), and it was Connor Budarick this time around."
Just over a week removed from comments surrounding too few players contributing to contested possession numbers for the side, Beveridge again put the contest element of the sport on his agenda.
"The confrontational aspect of the contest never goes away," he said.
"To get consistency in those elements, whether it's (at) ground level or in the air is really challenging from week to week.
"We're asking guys who are a bit banged up to do that every week, and others to come up to speed that haven't been there yet - young guys with a different blend.
"You can only play as well as your opposition lets you, as well... We understand there are no easy games, but I was really proud of the midfield group in particular.
"Lobby's ability to stabilise the ruck situation - we've found it hard to have a sustainable level of performance through that area this year (through player unavailability)."
The Bulldogs face a similarly banged up Collingwood side, on Saturday evening.
