Just 24 games on from the 2016 grand final, Beveridge acknowledged that his side had changed substantially from the incarnation that beat Sydney to end a 62-year premiership drought. “It does seem like a lifetime ago,” Beveridge said. “You can’t really establish yourself as a unified team until you start winning together. Until you start doing all the things that are going to get you to the line. I think there’s only 11 left in today’s team from [the grand final]. “We’re talking about two different sides now. But that doesn’t mean that we absolve ourselves of what we want to do this year. It is only round two.” The Dogs lost the contested possession count by 26 and were let down badly by poor disposal, with Beveridge left to lament the way they allowed the Eagles to run over his side in the second quarter.

No chocolates: Defeated Dogs walk off Ethiad Stadium after a heavy round two loss to West Coast on Easter Sunday. Credit:Waybe Ludbey “Last week we had three and half write-off quarters,” he said. “This week we had one. So it’s a step in the right direction. But they got us around the contest, and we gave them too many blatant opportunities with our skill. “The energy wasn't consistent enough. I think the hunger’s there. You can’t ever question the boys aren’t trying. It’s just unfortunate there’s a discrepancy between what we’re doing and what other teams are doing at the moment. “History’s history. This is a new side we’re trying to instil that in, and make sure everyone’s aware that [hunger] is a really important ingredient in a side that wants to climb the ladder. It’s not there, and the boys know that.”