WESTERN Bulldogs midfielder Mitch Wallis says big changes to the Kennel in the off-season suit his style.
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New head coach Luke Beveridge has made clear all along he is restructuring the club's approach across all lines.
The Bulldogs continued to fine-tune their structures in short bursts of match-play in an open training session at Eureka Stadium on Thursday morning, nine days out from hosting a NAB Challenge match against Melbourne at the ground.
Wallis said there was plenty of excitement and enthusiasm about the playing group as the season drew nearer.
"Bevo's great. He's adapting to the group, and there's a lot of young players in the group who are really responding well," Wallis said.
"He's one to praise anyone who brings their strength to the fore and for the young kids, it's a lot more suited to their style and it's suited to mine as well."
A near full-strength Bulldogs' outfit chalked up a win in the NAB Challenge opening round against Richmond at the weekend.
The Eureka Stadium training session is the Bulldogs' last major, intense training session for the week before an intra-club match on Family Day at the Whitten Oval on Saturday.
Competition for spots and a chance to impress is getting hotter.
The Bulldogs' inaugural standalone Victorian Football League arm, Footscray, claimed a premiership in its maiden season.
Wallis said that had definitely sparked more hunger for success.
"That was one of the best days in club history that day - Etihad Stadium in front of 25,000 fans, and I was one of them. First year as a standalone club to have a record like that is quite amazing," Wallis said.
"Players who played in the VFL (premiership), have had a great summer and will be pushing for AFL selection.
"It's very interesting. Hopefully we can have the same success at both levels of the club this year."
The Bulldogs adopted Ballarat under a formal alignment with the City of Ballarat in the off-season and, while players have been gradually building a presence about town, this week's two-day community camp was the club's first official engagement.
There is a strong established Ballarat influence about the Bulldogs in Rebels graduates Liam Picken, homegrown vice-captain Jordan Roughead (Lake Wendouree), Brett Goodes (also a dual North Ballarat Roosters premiership player) and former Rebels coach Chris Maple, who is the Bulldogs' head of development.
Wallis said they had not offered the playing group their personal expertise on how to play Eureka Stadium, just yet.
"Definitely Mapes loves it up here and Roughie spoke yesterday (sic) some great words on what this place means to him and how warm the community is," Wallis said.
"We're looking forward to the relationship coming up here the next few years and hopefully beyond that too."