ARE the Western Bulldogs beginning to slide down the deadly Dockers path?

That’s the concern starting to linger over the side’s premiership chances as we approach the halfway point of the season.

Despite ranking No. 1 in the competition for disposals this year (averaging 429 per game), the Bulldogs are 10th for scoring output (averaging 88 points per game).

It’s a similar ratio to that of Fremantle under Ross Lyon last season, where the Dockers ranked fourth for disposals but 12th for scoring.

Round 18

Many believed Fremantle’s dour style of football kept them from winning a maiden premiership later in the year and, according to Fox Footy analyst David King, the same queries are beginning to form over the heads of the Western Bulldogs.

“I think they’re a little bit akin to what we’ve seen from Fremantle over the last couple of years,” King told Fox Footy’s On The Couch.

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“They’re just not scoring enough. They’re winning a lot of the ball and winning a lot of contested footy and we love the way they play. (But) we’ve got to dispel the myth that they play sexy footy.

“They don’t play sexy footy, they play brutal footy. It’s tight and tough.

“Their scoring rate is well down. They’re ranked 10th in the competition for points scored, despite having a glut of possession.

“If we’ve put a line through Fremantle over the last couple of years, why wouldn’t you do the same to the Western Bulldogs?”

Luke Beveridge addresses his players on Saturday night. Picture: Wayne Ludbey. Source: News Corp Australia

The Dogs have scored more than 100 points in only five of 13 games so far this season. On two occasions, they’ve been limited to fewer than 50 points.

According to triple premiership player Jonathan Brown, their lack of output could come down to a loss of key personnel.

Brown said they haven’t been the same attacking unit since half backs Robert Murphy and Jason Johannisen went down earlier in the year with injury, suggesting it has changed coach Luke Beveridge’s game plan.

“It’s been talked down a little bit, the impact of no Robert Murphy and no Jason Johannisen has had on the Western Bulldogs — especially their ability to run quickly off half back and to punish the opposition by moving the ball inside forward 50,” Brown said.

“Luke Beveridge even spoke about it a few weeks ago that they had to adjust their game plan, putting more numbers and more resources into the midfield. That’s where they need to win it.

“They can’t rely on their half-back flankers to drive their scoring. And now their forwards aren’t scoring heavily.

“They don’t have the big dominant key forward. Jake Stringer is their most noticeable forward, but he gets up the ground.”

Stringer is the club’s leading goal kicker this year with 26 majors. He’s followed by Jack Redpath (15 goals) and Tory Dickson (14 goals).