The Western Bulldogs have pin-pointed stopping Hawthorns dangerous small forwards as key to their chances of making a first AFL preliminary final since 2010.Cyril Rioli, Paul Puopolo and Luke Breust have caused headaches for opposition sides all year, Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge admitting the trio will require extra attention in Fridays semi-final given Hawthorns talent in spreading the ball around the wide expanses of the MCG.They provide a significant aerial and ground threat, so well need to put enough pressure on the ball and give our defenders a chance to win the ball back really quickly, Beveridge said on Thursday.Thatll have a big say on the outcome, I would have thought.Much has been made of the contrasting paths the Hawks and Bulldogs have taken on their way to the finals.The Dogs pride themselves on playing tough, contested football and will look to bring the same intent as they did in their elimination final win over West Coast.Hawthorn have backed their outstanding footskills and ball movement to the point where coach Alistair Clarkson has dismissed the contested possessions metric as irrelevant.But despite the rhetoric, Beveridge expects the Hawks to bring a hard edge to stoppages, and doesnt think therell be much difference between the two sides skills.If you looked at the whole year, Hawthorn were way ahead of us, but we were better with our skills last week so I dont think were poles apart there, he said.Being able to defend the extremities of the G is always a big challenge.Thatll have a say but finals are normally won at the intensity, the grunt, the appetite for the contest and the courage side of it.I know both sides will bring it. Hopefully its us that comes out on top.The Bulldogs three-point loss to the Hawks in round three - marred by an ACL injury to captain Bob Murphy - remains a sore point at Whitten Oval and Beveridge says hes well aware of the need to match Hawthorns tactical nous.Thats one of the things Hawthorn have done unbelievably well over the journey, he said.I think weve held up pretty well this year in close games. Thatll be our challenge - to make sure we pull the right string or the right cord if the time comes.Beveridge says the Dogs have pulled up well after last weeks win over West Coast, with Lin Jong (broken collarbone) expected to be the only omission.His replacement is likely to be either forward Toby McLean or midfielder Lukas Webb, who were each held out of the VFL over the weekend.Jong is considered an outside chance to play again in the finals if the Bulldogs make it past Hawthorn but is out of contract and likely to seek a trade to a new club. Yao Ming Jersey . 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FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Whats the deal with the beard?Larry David, the creator of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm, is a big New York Jets fan. Hes not too fond of quarterback Ryan Fitzpatricks facial hair, though.I dont know why Fitzpatrick cant shave, honestly, David said Tuesday to guest host Charissa Thompson on The Dan Patrick Show. Why does he need that beard? That beard really bothers me. I dont know what this quarterback looks like. Who am I rooting for? Imagine Mickey Mantle with a full beard like that. It would have changed my entire childhood.Fitzpatrick usually sports a bushy, mountain man-like beard during the season, but its a bit toned down right now midway through training camp. He did show up Tuesday with his mustache shaved, and the quarterback didnt sack Davids idea.Well, Ive heard that hes a big Jet fan, a smiling Fitzpatrick said after practice. But Im probably a bigger `Seinfeld fan, so I dont take that lightly. I will take it into considerration, Larry.dddddddddddd And I respect you very much.David also might be coming for Chan Gaileys job -- or anyone else who runs an NFL offense.Im not joking. Im positive I could be an offensive coordinator, he said. All I have to do is, I think if I just studied, if I just hung around and just learned a little bit ... give me one season shadowing an offensive coordinator, one season, and I know I could do it.What can be so hard about it? You make up plays. Why is that so hard? Im creative in certain respects, and I think I can do that.Yadda, yadda, yadda.Fitzpatrick was asked what he thinks of the chances of David being a successful NFL offensive coordinator.Pretty, pretty good, Fitzpatrick said, mimicking a popular line from Curb Your Enthusiasm.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '