Western Bulldogs to seek clarification on new rule

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has indicated the club will seek clarification on the new interpretation of the stand rule.

It follows Arty Jones conceding a controversial 50-metre penalty for impeding the protected area, resulting in a Brisbane goal.

“What we have noticed is now you get called to stand even if you're not where the mark or free kick was given or taken,” Beveridge said in his post-match press conference.

“That's something we'll need a bit of clarification on. 

“You get called to stand five metres away from where they marked it so now they've got that little bit more space. 

“That makes a huge difference in this game, it really, really does.”

Umpires have strengthened their enforcement of the rule, with players now mandated to stand if they are within five metres of the mark or ball up, unlike in 2025 where players could revert to being outside five.

It comes after the league found just 58 per cent of players would stand when told last year, with the aim to increase overlap possession.

“Even if they call you to stand, I still think you should be able to come up to where the mark was taken but I don't think they're giving anyone that opportunity,” Beveridge added.

“We'll need some clarification on that maybe, we'll ask during the week.”

The Dogs coach expressed pride in his side's defence which has been questioned across the off-season after failing to land a significant recruit following a year where their leaky defence cost them a spot in September.

The Lions had 13 more inside 50s, yet were unable to convert it into a winning score.

Playing his first game for the club, Connor Budarick had 27 disposals and was one of the most influential players, Buku Khamis had important moments of defensive desperation, and debutants Lachie Jaques and Michael Sellwood showed some promise.

“We've worked on defensive elements… I thought some of our aerial stuff from Rory Lobb in particular (was important),” Beveridge said.

“Some of their small to mediums took contested marks when they shouldn't've. Other than that, we were reasonably good at the drop of those situations and other than their speed from Charlie Cameron and Zac Bailey being hard to contain at times we held up reasonably well. 

“When you consider Lachie Jaques, Michael Sellwood and Connor Budarick played in the backline for the first time, altogether with the other boys and Buku (Khamis) still hasn't played a lot of footy, but those lads held it together.

“Time will tell over the journey whether our defensive side is a bit different but there were some encouraging signs last week against the Hawks. 

Not since 2022 have the Dogs come out the right side of a game decided by two goals or less against a top eight opponent, with their inability to win big moments against the best last year a key factor they fell short of September.

Beveridge's troops won just one game against top eight sides last year, and a similar script appeared to be unfolding on Saturday night when the Dogs fell to a 26-point deficit, before slamming home seven last quarter goals to three.

“As much as we're really honest with what happened last year and some of the things we need to be better at we've really worked hard on mainly around the contest and defensive disciplines but it's important I don't stay in the past (and instead) live in the now and push ahead,” Beveridge said.

“It is important for us but we've got a level of confidence that we weren't too far away from those better teams last year so that's a good position to be in on the dawn of the season and (it) was evident tonight that we're bridging the gap a bit.”