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NEW Western Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney has subjected his players to a brutal first week of training, determined to return them to the snarling competitive beasts of previous seasons.
McCartney told his team to bring their mouthguards on Friday for a tackling and contested-ball drill, putting his stamp on a side that struggled in close last year.
Dogs players have noted the physicality of training, with McCartney keen to play an uncompromising hard ball-winning style.
Through a combination of reasons the Dogs lost their edge last year, and McCartney is keen to see them return to playing contested football.
Forward Jarrad Grant said the players had been left in no doubt about McCartney's desire for a tough game plan.
"We started Monday and it was a really solid week," he said. "We have been thrown the footies a lot earlier than usual and there is a lot more competitive stuff, which has been the big focus for Macca.
"We were good (in that area) in 2008 and 2009 and we have dropped off in the last couple of years ... there is no reason we can't get it back."
Bulldogs football manager James Fantasia said the pillars of McCartney's game plan were clear.
"What he has done is incorporating our learning straight into competitive situations, so last week was quite unique for our blokes. There aren't too many pre-seasons where you come back and put your mouthguards in straight away.
"It's part of the way he is rolling out our learning about the way we will be playing."
The Dogs are confident all their injured players will be in full training by Christmas, including Adam Cooney (knee), Brian Lake (knee), Tom Williams (foot) and Dale Morris (leg). Williams had surgery on a navicular fracture late in the season and will be eased back.
"He's going well," Fantasia said. "He did the injury with about three weeks (left in 2011) and had started his rehab before the boys left (for the break), so he has been in rehab for while."
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