The undermanned Suns were made to look second rate and sloppy to halftime in Saturday's 62-point loss to the red-hot Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium.

The Dogs piled 11 answered goals before Suns defender Jack Lukosius snuck forward to ensure they didn't endure the ignominy of their first goalless opening half in club history.

Coaching from ground level, Dew had a front-row seat of the carnage and said his side didn't handle the ladder leaders' manic pressure.

"I don't think we gave ourselves a chance," he said.

"They threw the first punch and we were up against the ropes and didn't step back forward until the third quarter, which is highly disappointing."

Down by 10 goals, the coach used his half-time address to highlight the efforts of second-gamer Jy Farrar (21 disposals, eight marks) in a bid to get others to step up.

"I pointed it was a career-defining half - and for the club as well - to respond," Dew said.

"It could have gone two ways and I'm sure at different periods late in the second quarter some people watching ... would have thought 'here we go, this is 100-plus (points loss)'.

"We were determined not to let that happen."

Still desperately missing injured stars Jarrod Witts and Matt Rowell, the Suns effectively played the Dogs to a draw in the second half.

It is a response that Dew is confident his one-win side can build on ahead of facing Sydney at Metricon Stadium next Saturday.

"We can give them the evidence that they can compete at the level. It's for how long," he said.

"We're trying to capture the right stuff and address the areas of improvement."

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are sending Bailey Williams for scans after the backman suffered a suspected shoulder injury.

"Our guys are a bit concerned that he may have a crack in his collarbone," coach Luke Beveridge said.

"Sometimes when it's an AC (joint) the boys can keep playing but he had to come out of the game, unfortunately.

"It would be a surprise if it's better news than that."

Williams was subbed off in the final term for Ben Cavarra, who was made the medical sub after Pat Lipinski became a late inclusion for Laitham Vandermeer (back spasms).

Australian Associated Press