Dahlhaus: Versatility a key to Dogs' premiership defence

The Dogs opened the new season with a 14-point win over Collingwood on Friday night, a contest where they were challenged by the Magpies who took the lead in the third term only for the Dogs to respond with five straight goals.

One of the hallmarks of Hawthorn's dominant era was the flexibility of players to shift into different positions, and the Dogs appear to also boast this.

Skipper Bob Murphy, in his comeback match after missing most of the last year, pushed forward from his customary role in defence and was influential in the pivotal third term. He even had a chance to goal but handballed to teammate Stewart Crameri, who booted his first goal after missing last season because of an anti-doping ban.

Half-back Jason Johannisen drifted forward and booted two goals, while former Magpie Travis Cloke ensures a different look inside attacking 50, and as a relief ruckman.

"Teams have been watching us, obviously, in the finals series and they are going to see who plays where and and try and work us out," Dahlhaus said.

"Blokes have to start playing different positions. Even though we were pretty good at that in the past, we are getting even better and we have been training that over summer."

The Dogs were crunched at stoppages and had 18 fewer inside 50s than the Pies, an area they will be keen to address ahead of Friday night's grand-final rematch against the Swans at Etihad Stadium.

"It's come around pretty quick. They are a great team, Sydney. They are a little like the Collingwood team, they have great pressure, it will be a great contest," Dahlhaus said.

The Dogs are sweating on a leg injury to veteran defender Dale Morris, who was hurt late in the clash.

So good at the "source" in their premiership year, the Dogs trailed 86-66 in contested possessions and 24-10 in clearances at half-time against the Pies, prompting the players to take action.

"I think at half-time we got a little bit of a spray. It was basically from within us (playing group) though," Dahlhaus, who was busy with 24 disposals, said.

"We knew we were off in all facets of the game, that centimetre-game was a little bit off. They (Magpies), obviously, got better in the third quarter and we went from there. We looked a little bit shaky in the last quarter but we held on and ran out the game."

The Dogs were delighted with Cloke's impact. He provided a contest and was able to silence a jeering Collingwood crowd late in the first term when he drilled a 50-metre goal after a strong mark. So hostile was the reception he was given that Cloke's brother, Jason, also a former Magpie, took to social media to condemn the fans.

Cloke's new teammates rushed to celebrate with him when he converted.

"You could see he was pretty excited. It had, obviously, played on his mind a little bit. He struck it perfectly. It's a good way to shove it up 'em," Dahlhaus said.

Cloke would finish with 14 disposals, six marks and a goal, having been manned by Ben Reid and Tyson Goldsack.

"That's all that has been asked of Travis, just come in and play your role, it doesn't matter about touches or goals. He did pinch hit in the ruck and bring it to ground for the smalls, he did that really well," Dahlhaus said.

Tom Boyd carried the frontline ruck duties and was a tired man in the dressingroom post match. While Cloke provided some relief, the new rule legislating against the third-man up means there is more onus on the ruckman to contest and hit to a teammate's advantage.

Coach Luke Beveridge said the Dogs, missing No.1 ruckman Jordan Roughead through injury, would continue to work on how best to deal the law change.

"We haven't got a solution when it's not going that well as far as controlling where that ball goes in the ruck," Beveridge said.

"Now it's totally one-on-one. Our rucks had their fair share of hit-outs. But now it's making sure we are reading that better, and our methodology in there is better, because times have changed.

"So, as much as we didn't quite adapt as well as we would like to tonight, it was great to see some of our wing, half-back, half-forward types really impose themselves on the game."

The new ruling has sparked suggestions clubs would look to recruit more specialist ruckmen but Beveridge said that may not eventuate.

"I don't think so. Potentially, it can go the other way. Potentially, we will give that up. You have a different approach to the game and have your list devoid of ruckmen. That's the other extreme. The game isn't only played around hit-outs," he said.

"Potentially, some coaches and list managers will see it that way, absolutely, you might need a bit of a surplus. But you've got to consider the whole game. Removing the second jumper or the third up, definitely doesn't guarantee more ruckmen to be recruited on the list."