TAGGING Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield isn't in the Western Bulldogs' plans ahead of the sides' top-four clash on Saturday night, according to coach Luke Beveridge.
Dangerfield racked up a career-high 48 possessions in the Cats' win over North Melbourne last week, and Beveridge will back his imposing midfield group to continue its stellar form.
Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore, Lachie Hunter and Mitch Wallis headline the AFL's best contested-ball midfield – an area in which the Cats' dynamo excels.
Match preview: Western Bulldogs v Geelong
However, Beveridge conceded he wouldn't hesitate to make a move if Dangerfield was at his destructive best again.
"When you look at the spread of contribution of our midfield we've established a formidable group that have had the upper hand most week and we'll be looking to do the same," Beveridge said.
"Patrick is an exceptional player and he'll be one of their mids we'll look to overcome with our method.
"If we need to make any adjustments throughout the course of the night we will.
"The plan is to not be in that position."
While he admits Dangerfield looms as a threat to the Dogs consolidating their top-four credentials, Beveridge believes his side's poor recent record against the Cats won't be a factor.
The Bulldogs have only beaten Geelong once since round one, 2007, and the second-year coach is yet to steer his side to victory against his Cats counterpart Chris Scott.
"It has been (a problem), hopefully it isn't this weekend," Beveridge joked.
"We try to talk about recent history (that) the core of our group have been involved in, so we haven't spoken about it and it doesn't really matter to us too much.
"It's been a Geelong dominance over the Bulldogs over the course of time, (so) from here on in we're looking to change that and it would be a nice way to start it on Saturday night."
With Marcus Bontempelli set to chalk up game 50, Beveridge compared his output to date to what Joel Selwood had achieved at the same stage of his celebrated career.
If the 20-year-old, who sits fifth in the AFL player rankings, can hold his own against the Geelong captain and Dangerfield, it will go a long way to the Dogs breaking their hoodoo against the Cats.
"(Marcus' first 50 games) have probably got to be up there with some of the best," Beveridge said.
"We're coming up against Joel Selwood, and his contribution to his football club has been quite outstanding.
"We've had some recent momentum and (Marcus) has been imperative and a key player in that.
"He's become an exceptional player; he's become a match-winner."
The Etihad Stadium clash will see the Bulldogs partner with anti-domestic violence campaigners, White Ribbon, to help address violence against women in the community.
