Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is concerned about the availability of captain Bob Murphy for the start of the club's finals campaign next week.

Murphy, 33, joins fellow veterans Matthew Boyd and Dale Morris in missing the Bulldogs' journey to Brisbane for Saturday's final-round clash against the last-placed Lions at the Gabba.

All three players were listed as having "general soreness," but Beveridge said the skipper's issues were new and genuine, rather than merely a euphemism for a final-round rest, which is in vogue this season. Murphy left training early on Thursday, with Beveridge elaborating on the reasons.

"It's the first time all year, really, he has some sort of tendon stuff happening up round the groin," Beveridge said at Melbourne airport on Friday morning.

"It's just not a good idea to risk him at this time of the year."

Queried about whether Murphy could miss the Dogs' first final since 2010, Beveridge said: "I hope not, but if it persists then he might be. It's new, but we hope he's going to be OK."

Murphy had claimed earlier in the week he would play against the Lions but Beveridge was adamant the defender "didn't tell you a porkie," and that the setback was a more recent development.

Beveridge added that Boyd had also been in line to play, with only Morris' absence planned as a result of the backman's ongoing Achilles issue.

"The other two were on route to play, but we made the decision yesterday that it was best that they didn't."

Despite the bevy of changes made by both North Melbourne and Fremantle, Beveridge said the Dogs didn't consider adopting a similar approach. There is greater incentive for the Dogs to win than for the Kangaroos and Dockers, with a win in Queensland enough to ensure Beveridge's side  don't play an away elimination final interstate.

"We didn't want to rest players. I mentioned the other day that we wanted to maintain momentum," Beveridge said.

"What we've done throughout the course of the year is give players games off or time away from the club and feel like we've managed our group pretty well."

Beveridge was one of the strongest advocates against substitutions, and not surprisingly was chuffed to see the back of the maligned rule, which the AFL announced on Thursday would not be in place next season.

"I'm rapt," he said.

"I think everyone was all for it but I've been reasonably vocal in my pursuit of having it abolished ... I hate the player management aspect of it."

While the finals had been a taboo topic inside the Whitten Oval, the lid is now off, and Beveridge was able to have a momentary pause to reflect on the Dogs' stunning rise up the ladder in his first season as coach.

"We did, we took a moment last week and really applauded the players for their efforts and what they've done, with the reminder that we want to create some havoc if we can," Beveridge said.

"It's a great achievement for our club and our players.

"It's been quite sensational."

Beveridge said while there was a risk the Dogs could experience a final-round letdown now they had qualified for the top eight the need to win to avoid week one travel would likely guard against that potential hazard.

Beveridge highlighted how important it was for individuals to perform in order to book their position in the team.

"There's still that competition for spots," he said.

"There's a handful of guys that are a bit stiff to miss out on a game. Nathan Hrovat probably would've played but he's got an ankle injury at the moment, and we haven't been able to play him for the second week in a row, which is unfortunate."