TWENTY four games ago the Western Bulldogs lifted the 2016 premiership cup.

But their ‘hugely regarded’ brand has all but eviscerated. And the footage is damning.

On the weekend the Bulldogs lacked urgency, as the Giants — the team they beat on route to the flag — thumped them to the tune of 82 points.

It was a match that left more questions than answers for Luke Beveridge’s side.

Finals Week 1

And for Garry Lyon, the most glaring problem was the club’s lack of an identifiable game plan — not to mention the personnel assembled to execute it.

“They had a trademark way they went about it,” Lyon said on Fox Footy’s On The Couch about the Bulldogs’ 2016 brand.

“It was easily identifiable, hugely regarded and respected. And it’s gone in the space of 24 games.

“We come to Round 1 2018, after a summer where they acknowledged they were off and could do things better.

“It was borderline — I don’t want to use the word insipid — but they looked disinterested at times.”

No answers. Photo: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas Source: AAP

The Giants outmuscled, outmarked and outplayed the Bulldogs. At half time GWS had 40 more uncontested marks, highlighting their utter dominance.

Paul Roos said the Bulldogs’ rapid fall from grace was inexplicable, with their 2016 midfield superior to the engine room he had previously deemed as the benchmark.

“The key for me is how quickly they got from contest to contest,” Roos said.

“I rated Sydney as the best midfield team that went defensively and offensively, and the Bulldogs at that stage were five per cent ahead of what the Swans were.”

Only 13 premiership players lined up in Round 1, with a host of new faces including rookie debutant Billy Gowers blooded.

Tom Boyd, Caleb Daniel and Tory Dixon were all notable omissions, as was recruit Josh Schache.

Lyon was puzzled as to why so many players who were previously “part of the fabric of the footy side” were left out of the club’s opening match.

Roos couldn’t offer an explanation, but warned of the dangers of wholesale team changes.

“If you keep on changing a team so dramatically, it’s very hard for anyone to get any sort of system,” Roos said.

“That’s when I look at the Dogs now, it’s very hard to identify their system because of the personnel changes.”

Only North Melbourne kicked fewer goals than the Bulldogs on the weekend — but the Kangaroos played in torrential rain in Cairns, courtesy of a tropical Cyclone.

There were no such excused for the Bulldogs. And Gerard Healy said it should be Beveridge’s overwhelming concern.

“The greatest challenge for him is to sort out a forward line,” Healy said.

“It hasn’t worked for a long period of time. This needs addressing.

“They’ve put Easton Wood up there. I’m not sure that’s part of the solution. They’ve got some major issues.”