THE Western Bulldogs need to get better at combating the AFL's monster forwards, according to coach Luke Beveridge.

Despite having the competition's stingiest defence, key forwards Josh Jenkins (eight goals) and Jarrad Waite (four) have given the Bulldogs plenty of problems in the past fortnight.

And the task of stopping Melbourne's Jesse Hogan at the MCG on Sunday will be all the more harder with first-year revelation Marcus Adams sidelined with a fracture finger.

"He's an imposing young forward, Jesse, and as you saw with the Crows' big forwards we didn't manage them too well last week," Beveridge said.

"Whether it's Jesse, Taylor Walker or Josh Jenkins, it (doesn't) get any easier.

"Whoever's got him at any point in time, I think they're going to need help in the air, which we've been OK at.

"It will be more a communal effort."

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With veteran Dale Morris better suited to playing on smaller types in the twilight of his career, it will be a very inexperienced key defensive group that runs out against the Demons with Fletcher Roberts (21 games) likely to be partnered by either Zaine Cordy (two) or Joel Hamling (13).

Beveridge hasn't ruled out giving draftee Kieran Collins a baptism of fire after the hulking 18-year-old's impressive form in the VFL.

First-year running defender Bailey Williams is also in the frame to play his first game in the red, white and blue. 

"We'll pick a young defender out of those four and give them an opportunity to play in a big game," Beveridge said.

"Zaine Cordy has been playing well, young Bailey Williams been playing pretty well, Kieran Collins had a week off last week (and) Joel Hamling played reasonably well.

"We haven't had the best run of luck with (our defenders), but I've been impressed the way the boys have adapted."

As the Dogs prepare for the first game at the MCG since last year's elimination final loss to Adelaide, Beveridge said his players are jumping out of their skins to play the first of only two matches at the AFL's "colosseum" in 2016. 

"We do go in with a head of steam after beating a very good side in the Adelaide Crows," he said.

"The boys love playing at Etihad (but) the MCG is (the game's) colosseum and the boys are looking forward to getting out on the big arena.

"It's the stomping ground for the finals, and if you get there, you have to win finals there.

"We would love to win this week, but we don't it's not the end of the world."