Contested possessions, clearances, and stoppages are often used in coaching vernacular to describe how a team has performed.

If you get soundly beaten in these key areas on the field, it generally doesn’t bode well for you on the scoreboard.

There are exceptions, of course, and the Western Bulldogs are a prime example.

The Bulldogs are one of the best teams at winning the contested football – they lead the competition in first possessions from a ball-up, rank second behind Hawthorn in total first possessions, and are statistically one of the best stoppage sides.

Young midfielder Tom Liberatore is the main driver of the Bulldogs’ engine room, and ranks among the competition leaders in contested possessions, hard ball gets, and clearances.

But the midfield’s hard work doesn’t always get rewarded.

Against reigning Grand Finalists Fremantle last Sunday, the Bulldogs won clearances (47-32), stoppages (35-29), contested possessions (152-139), thus creating a whopping 26 more entries inside 50m.

However, the Dockers still prevailed by 38 points.

The Lions will be aware of the Bulldogs’ supreme ability at stoppages when they head to Etihad Stadium this Saturday.

The task will be made even more difficult for the visitors without ruckman Trent West, who joins teammate Matthew Leuenberger on the sidelines with a long-term knee injury.

So while Fremantle were able to dominate the hitouts last weekend (55-29) courtesy of giant Aaron Sandilands, the Lions won’t have the same luxury opposed to 2013 All Australian ruckman Will Minson.

But Assistant Coach Shane Woewodin says the Lions midfield proved against Carlton that they were still capable of winning the ball despite being short on ruckmen.    

“We haven’t had much luck with our talls, especially our ruckmen who have gone down with knee injuries,” Woewodin told LIONS TV as part of the Vero Coaches’ Wrap.

“It certainly has an effect, particularly around a stoppage point of view.

“But we kept it positive for the boys (last weekend against Carlton). We made sure they remained proactive, didn’t get reactive to Warnock, and were really aggressive inside.

“The hitouts were minus 54 on the evening, but we were nearly level with clearances and first possession inside the contest.

“It was a great effort and shows how it’s as much about attitude.”

Jack Redden has been the Lions’ chief extractor so far this season with a team-high 63 clearances – which ranks him 10th in the competition.

Last Saturday night against the Blues, he and Rockliff had 19 clearances between them – 10 and nine respectively – which was clearly more than any Carlton player despite the fact the Lions had 54 less hitouts (16-70).

It makes Saturday’s match-up an intriguing one, with Redden and Rockliff expected to go head-to-head with Liberatore and Bulldogs skipper Matthew Boyd.

Interesting, the two 'Toms' - Liberatore and Rockliff - are also ranked first and second respectively in total tackles this year, so fans can expect a hotly contested midfield battle at Etihad Stadium.