Western Bulldogs size up altitude training for key players The Dogs are eyeing an altitude training camp. WESTERN Bulldogs are investigating options to send a group of key-position players on an altitude camp in the US. The club has begun looking at destinations such as Arizona to base some of its big men for a gruelling camp. While no plans have been locked in, it is known the coaching staff wants to bolster the Dogs' tall players' running power and aerobic capacity in the pre-season. Key forward Liam Jones and boom first-year goalkicker Jake Stringer are two players the Bulldogs believe could benefit from an altitude trip. The development comes after an excellent second half of the season. The Dogs have won four of their past eight games under second-year coach Brendan McCartney. While not every club has an altitude training program, it is generally accepted players need to spend at least three weeks training at heights to gain significant benefit. The rest of the Dogs' squad would continue training as normal at Whitten Oval if an altitude proposal were successful. The Dogs have the use of an altitude room at Victoria University. The Bulldogs yesterday confirmed club figures have discussed the potential for a camp, but stressed investigations were only in their early stages. Melbourne key forwards Chris Dawes and Mitch Clark have plans to spend part of their off-season in Arizona to get a head start on their preparations for next season. Collingwood, Richmond, Gold Coast, North Melbourne, Brisbane and Essendon all undertook overseas altitude training in some form last pre-season. The Dogs announced yesterday veteran forward Daniel Giansiracusa will play on next season and take a coaching role in 2015. Giansiracusa will play his 250th game against Melbourne tomorrow, which will be the last match for veteran midfielder Daniel Cross in Dogs colours.