Bulldogs go back to the future for AFL fix

Video highlights of what has brought them recent success have formed part of the Western Bulldogs' strategy this week as they look to resurrect their flagging AFL season.

The reigning premiers are turning to positive reinforcement in a bid to bounce back against Carlton at the MCG on Sunday.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said there was no mystery to his team's 1-4 win-loss record since the round 11 bye that has resulted in a slide to a precarious 11th on the ladder.

"It's actually just method. When you break down team defence and the way we want to use the ball, we probably haven't looked like the team we want to be," Beveridge said.

"We've trained it (this week), we've looked at some vision and it's reasonably clear in our minds as to what it can look like.

"It's quite simple, we've done it before, albeit with a different mix of personnel.

"But all these boys who present on Sunday have been able to play good footy within our system and there's no doubt they'll apply themselves."

Beveridge said the Bulldogs were acutely aware of the Blues' ability to restrict opposition scoring.

Since their mid-season bye, Carlton have produced a 2-3 record that included narrow losses to top-eight contenders Adelaide and Melbourne in the past two weeks.

"We've looked at that and it has been one of their strengths that they have been able to arrest momentum and get themselves back into a game," Beveridge said.

"We've prepared for it, but executing it against them is another thing.

"Time will tell and the early part of the game is always critical and to get it on our terms is our objectives."

The Bulldogs have promoted 18-year-old South Australian recruit Lewis Young. The 197cm defender was the youngest player in the AFL draft last November.

"He plays the way we want him to play in our back end and he has become a really influential player at a young age," Beveridge said.

"As you saw last week, we needed some height in our back end and support down there."