James O’Donnell welcomes the criticism.

In fact, the Western Bulldogs defender uses it as fuel.

The Bulldogs’ back six has long been considered the achilles heel of their premiership tilt.

O’Donnell disagrees and so do the defensive figures over the past third of the 2026 season.

“To be honest, I kind of like it. It fuels me a bit,” O’Donnell said.

“It is, at times, a narrative that is a little bit … I don’t think it’s completely correct.

“There’s definitely been areas in our game we needed to lift and I feel like we made a lot of ground this year.

“Statistically speaking, we’re a pretty solid back six. Again, it’s just fuel and something I don’t shy away from.

“It’s definitely been nice to prove some all those doubters wrong.”

Western Bulldogs have drastically improved their defensive profile, matching their top echelon attack by evolving into a top six side without the ball late this year.

They’ve stopped the early-season scoring haemorrhages and won key individual battles out of their weight class.

O’Donnell says the defensive line embraces the challenge because it’s emblematic of the blue-collar Bulldogs from the west.

“We don’t really talk about (noise) too much, it’s quite process driven,” O’Donnell said.

“It sounds cliche, but that’s what it is: week-to-week, what we want to go after, different teams show different looks.

“But for me, I personally think as well, I’m sure the other boys if you ask them would probably feel similar.

“I think that’s us as a club in general as well, (we’re) doubted but when our backs are against the wall hopefully stand up.

“I love that side of it.”

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is always quick to pour praise on O’Donnell.

“He’s a stand-up lad, isn’t he? He’s a ripper,” Beveridge said.

“I know coaches aren’t allowed to play favourites, but I just admire how he’s come on, for a young fella who turned his mind to playing this game in a serious sense from cricket.

“ I made the comment to the players a while ago, he’s a thumping kick, you know?

“I reckon it started with Val Perovic, remember Val Perovic? Val had a thumping leg, he could kick it a mile.

“Mainly at Carlton, I think, when he would roost it, the whole crowd would go ‘oof’, like that.

“Now when there’s a highlight and Jimmy O’Donnell kicks the ball, the whole lecture theatre, the players are ‘oof’.

“He’s our Val Perovic now Jimmy, he’s been outstanding and Buku (Khamis) has been tremendous. I think that backline, the composition now is probably in a place where it’s favourable.”

The love between O’Donnell and his coach is mutual.

“Bevo and I have a great relationship, I am very lucky to have Bevo as my coach,” O’Donnell said.

“I think about how I started and how he, I guess, gave me the opportunity so early in my Bulldogs career.

“The trust he’s given me and the responsibility, he’s probably given me more belief than I ever had in myself – especially at the start.

“That as a starting point, we’ve just got a great relationship in that sense, but from a backline and role point of view, he’s super clear.

“He knows what he needs from me and I try to provide that every week – I love playing for him.”

Originally published as ‘It fuels me’: Bulldogs defender hits back at critics over achilles heel tag