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Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge "hated" leaving substitute Toby McLean on the bench throughout the win over Hawthorn but didn't want to upset the balance of a delicately poised match.
Beveridge raised eyebrows when he sat McLean on the pine for the entirety of Saturday night's dour 29-point victory at Marvel Stadium.
It made the 2016 premiership player the first unused substitute in the competition this season.
"I just felt the game was in the balance for a long period of time but it was stable," Beveridge explained post-match.
"As much as you might try and identify with an individual or two who probably weren't having their best days, they were still playing important roles in the scheme of things and helping others play better.
"We and I just weren't prepared to pull that lever and then it got late and, really, I didn't want to do that to Toby really late in the game.
"I'd rather him go and have a workout (post-match) than come on for a couple of minutes."
McLean's full game on the bench came on the same night the 27-year-old's family were on hand to celebrate last week's 100-game milestone.
He reached that tally in an interstate match, with the club preferring to save the family commemorations for a home fixture.
"It's been a difficult day for Tobes," Beveridge said.
"I hate it. I hate putting the player through it, but it is what it is.
"It's a tough one for Tobes but he's got plenty of character and he'll be OK."
McLean will still be credited for a game played against Hawthorn under AFL rules.
The unusual situation reprised memories of Melbourne leaving James Jordon as an unused substitute throughout the 2021 grand final.
