BREAKFAST radio yesterday aired the disturbing news that the world is going to end today (at precisely 5.37pm, for anyone keen to get in a last round of golf). Yet despite the widespread belief that obliteration for the Western Bulldogs has come early, there was no talk of imminent doom at Whitten Oval.

But no matter what happens in the Swiss big-bang experiment, the Dogs are hurting, to be sure. At issue is whether the mental anguish caused by last Friday night's loss to Hawthorn will be as hard to overcome as any physical ache, or if a combination of the two has left a wound too nasty to salve.

Only 17 of the supposedly dead and buried trained yesterday, with Robert Murphy, Adam Cooney and Shaun Higgins making it onto the track but steering clear of the main bunch. Brad Johnson and Scott Welsh were unsighted, but coach Rodney Eade said all would be available to tackle finals-hardened Sydney.

"Downloading, I think they call it, that's the new fad word," was Murphy's wry assessment. "We'll have a full list by Friday."

"Everyone's fine," Eade reiterated. "Obviously a few little knocks and bruises and different things, but everyone will be right." Almost subconsciously, he added: "Everyone will be available."

Eade pondered that all were amateur psychologists of sorts - "whether you work at the fruit shop or you're a senior coach". He has heard the chorus that the Dogs' style is unsuited to the coalface of finals football, but defended the simplicity of a kicking, handballing, running game - as long as it is married to the intensity his team displayed in the season's first 15 rounds.

"Teams and individuals make their name when the heat's on, and other people fall away," Eade said. "You talk about people being positive and making it all fluffy and nice, (but) it's being able to look it straight in the eyes and meet that challenge head-on.

"It's about winning the ball, doing something with it, and putting pressure on the opposition. On Friday night, we were appalling in those three areas."

He scarcely needed to add that they are boxes the Swans are very good at ticking.

Murphy reckoned "you could throw a blanket over the areas that were disappointing, but what do you do? You get back on the horse and have a crack at Sydney this week." He would not speculate whether a loss would amount to a failed 2008.

Eade conceded that "to go out in straight sets makes it a hollow season".

He would love the tall forward the fruiterers-turned-list-managers have been baying for, and hinted that a loss could bring off-season changes. Even unexpected progression to the grand final would not change the need to play more talented youngsters next year.

Whether any come in this week is unclear; Eade said this wasn't the time of year to drop players simply to make a statement. The task is picking a team, on balance and form, that can beat the Swans for the third time in 2008.

Dylan Addison, sidelined since round 17 with a knee injury, trained yesterday, but Eade said he would need more than the half game he played for Williamstown last weekend to be considered. Callan Ward, best afield for Willy, was not sighted.

Last week is gone, Eade reporting that home truths had been addressed "in an extremely strong fashion", but "we didn't belt them around the head". Murphy said disappointment reached a point where it became counterproductive.

"You have a few days of licking wounds, but there's not enough time to sit there and ponder about season's end and that sort of thing. It's all energy into Friday night."

His knee and Lindsay Gilbee's calf were the main physical concerns, but Murphy moved freely and Gilbee trained without apparent discomfort.

Finally, Murphy was asked about the reason he fronted the media yesterday - the arrival of his 150th game. "I'd completely forgotten about that, to be honest. I don't think it really matters." Not as much as redemption.