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UNDERSTANDING the Western Bulldogs' success means grasping the frank relationship between premiership coach Luke Beveridge and his troops.

Beveridge is a clinical and innovative operator with a rough-and-tumble exterior who expertly maintains a reputation as a players' coach despite his tough-love approach with selection.
Much was made of his decision to dump Jake Stringer to the VFL late last year, but a closer inspection of 2016 and 2017 so far reveals those hard calls are part of the coach's blueprint.

Beveridge's Bulldogs racked up 24 unforced changes last season, with only bottom-eight clubs Fremantle and Melbourne (both 28) and Richmond (25) making more.
By contrast, Sydney's triumphant 2012 squad and Hawthorn's in 2013 recorded only seven and 10 unforced changes, respectively.

Stringer's premiership teammates Joel Hamling, Toby McLean, Fletcher Roberts and Josh Dunkley also fell victim to the axe last year.
It took until round 19 for Zaine Cordy to break into the senior squad, while 2013 No.1 pick Tom Boyd spent five long rounds in the VFL after a shoulder injury cost him six weeks.

There was also Beveridge's cold-as-ice demotion on finals eve for Nathan Hrovat. Not all stories have a fairytale ending, and Hrovat is now a Kangaroo.

The trend has continued, with premiership players McLean and Shane Biggs (twice each), Caleb Daniel, Tom Liberatore, Cordy and Roberts all being dropped this season.
Liberatore – the Stringer of 2017, or the biggest fish in the out-of-favour pond – Cordy, Roberts and McLean felt Beveridge's wrath in one hit ahead of the Dogs' round nine match against Geelong.
"It's probably not pleasant, especially happening twice. You definitely don't get used to it," Biggs told AFL.com.au.

"But Bevo does it in a way where everyone gets a turn almost and, especially if you're out of form, you sort of know it's coming.

"It's healthy to go back and work on your game, because it's sometimes easier to work on your game at the lower level."

Shane Biggs has felt the axe twice in 2017 already. Picture: AFL Photos


Big-name recruit Travis Cloke knows the feeling all too well from his time at Collingwood, but his new coach delivered another dose last week.

Jack Redpath, after a combined five goals in his two AFL games back from knee surgery, and Cloke were among the round 10 outs.
"I don't think anyone (at the Bulldogs) sees going back as a real step down," Biggs said.
"It's not, 'You're dropped and you can see yourself not getting in for eight weeks'. It's a real time to grow and it can happen within one week, or two or three.
"Everyone knows what's going on and you know where you're at and there are a lot of conversations being had around the game, so there's no grey (area)."

Clubs love analysing the reigning premier's strategies and methods then adopting some of them. Whether Beveridge's selection ruthlessness becomes a new fad is worth watching for.

But it must be noted that two of the Bulldogs' greatest flag rivals, Adelaide and Greater Western Sydney, are going the other way this year.
The Crows (four) have made the fewest unforced changes, while the Giants – although battling injury far more than Adelaide or the Dogs – and another frontrunner, Port Adelaide, have just one more.

Beveridge has made 14, tied with Geelong and Melbourne, and behind only the Brisbane Lions (17) and Richmond (15).


Team changes since the start of 2016

CLUB UNFORCED FORCED TOTAL
Melbourne 42 36 78
Richmond 40 44 84
Brisbane Lions 39 49 88
Western Bulldogs 38 42 80
Fremantle 37 38 75
Collingwood 35 46 81
Hawthorn 35 39 74
Geelong 34 47 81
West Coast 33 36 69
Sydney 32 41 73
Gold Coast 30 60 90
Essendon 29 58 87
Port Adelaide 28 30 58
Carlton 27 39 66
St Kilda 21 41 62
GWS Giants 20 42 62
North Melbourne 18 47 65
Adelaide 16 29 45

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs