THE WESTERN Bulldogs expect to find out which hub they will be going to by Friday afternoon, but coach Luke Beveridge says one or two players may consider staying at home instead.
Beveridge isn’t sure which hub it will be, but Perth or the Gold Coast are the most likely options.
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“At the end of the day, we will probably know where we are going,” said Beveridge at Friday’s press conference.
“The three locations are Perth, Sydney and probably the Gold Coast again. I’m not sure if it will be Sydney because we played both teams from New South Wales.”
The dogs will support the players either way, but they could stay a bit understaffed as young fathers like Tom Liberatore, Mitch Wallis and Josh Bruce have some choices to make.
“I think we have eight fathers and the boys will decide whether to go to the hubs or not,” said Beveridge.
“We would like to take everyone with us, we will definitely take all players with us, we hope to be able to take partners and small children with us if that is the choice.”
The COVID-19 hotspots hit the bulldogs pretty hard. 10 club members must find alternative accommodation on Wednesday.
“I think we had seven players who had to move and three employees. Most went and stayed with relatives – the employees,” said Beveridge.
“The players moved to the hotel room and ‘Libba’ (Tom Liberatore) with his young family stayed in an Airbnb and ‘Jongy’ (Lin Jong) with his puppy, everyone with a pet had to move to an Airbnb.”
The dogs encounter a shapely outfit in North Melbourne on Saturday, but without the young star Aaron Naughton, they hope for a recruit Bruce lift.
The former saint has only scored two goals in four games this year, but Beveridge has put it back on the referees to serve him in a different way.
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“We are very pleased with the way he (Bruce) forcedly ended the game last week when we were two men down,” said Beveridge.
“One of the things we have to continue to deal with is freedom with strikers and holding jumpers and arms.
“We’re not sending a vision to the AFL, but Brucey is fighting his way through.”
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