WESTERN Bulldogs midfielder Lachie Hunter has backed hulking key forward Jack Redpath to return from suspension for Sunday's clash with West Coast at Etihad Stadium.

Redpath missed the Bulldogs' opening round thrashing at the hands of Greater Western Sydney due to a three-week ban he received for striking Giant Phil Davis in round 21 last season. 

With Luke Beveridge's men only scoring 7.9 from 51 forward-50 entries at a worrying 37 per cent efficiency in the 82-point loss in Canberra, Hunter said the inclusion of the 27-year-old former rookie would give the side a strong focal point. 

Redpath has kicked 54 goals from 34 games and was added to the leadership group this season. 

"Hopefully he comes back in (because) he was playing really well in the scratch matches and he was looking like he was in really good form," Hunter said on Thursday. 

"He's that old-style forward who is someone to hit up coming out of the goalsquare, so he is nice to have in the team structurally."

The capitulation against the Giants was the worst loss the club has had under Beveridge, and it lead club president Peter Gordon to label the performance "embarrassing". 

While he conceded the effort was sub-standard, Hunter said the debrief was measured and the team is confident they can bounce back against the Eagles.

"I did listen to a little bit of (what) Peter Gordon said, (and) it was a disappointing effort from our team in round one and we look to perform a lot better this week," he said.

"I wouldn't say it was a scathing review, we looked at we did wrong and a couple of things we did well, like every week. 

"There were clearly a few areas we can improve like ball movement, stuff around the contest and pressure where we let ourselves down. 

"Round one performances can be blown up into something they're not, (compared) to round four or five, so you've just got to treat it like it is one game."

"We have to move on as quick as we can." 

In better news for the Dogs, Liam Picken did some running drills at training on Friday in his recovery from a concussion received in the JLT Community Series.

The 31-year-old has been suffering reoccurring headaches and has been restricted from doing ball work.

The Dogs are taking a cautious approach with the tough midfielder, with no timeframe given for his return to full training.