Phil Gould and Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo may not agree on Lachlan Galvin's best long-term position but are united in their praise for the besieged youngster.
Ahead of their round-12 clash with Melbourne, Bulldogs Football General Manager Gould said that he didn't see Galvin as their future No.7, despite being recruited for that role.
The 20-year-old partners five-eighth Matt Burton but the halves combination has failed to gel this season with the Dogs losing seven of their past eight matches, including the last five.
Recruited to Canterbury from Wests Tigers by Gould in mid-2025, Galvin has been in the firing line for the Bulldogs' attacking woes, falling from premiership contenders to battlers.
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"I don't think he is a long-term halfback and I don't think we have had any intention of him being a long-term halfback," Gould told The Bye Round Podcast.
"But I'll tell you now, he is the best halfback we have got this week for this game. It's as simple as that and he has been since he walked in the joint.
"... he's doing a big job in a struggling team and I think acquitting himself very, very well. Lachlan Galvin, he's a very special individual and he's a very special talent."
Ciraldo was asked about Gould's comments at his pre-match press conference and said he didn't see any reason why Galvin couldn't wear the No.7 jersey long term.
"He's the best halfback we've got right now, and he's got an opportunity to be a halfback for as long as he wants to be," Ciraldo said on Thursday.
"The way he's tracking right now is pretty good, when you consider what he's had to go through off the field, what he's had to learn on the field - I don't think you see a lot of 20-year-old halfbacks doing some of the things that Lachie Galvin is able to do it right now.
"He's learning a lot in a short space of time, and if he continues on that trajectory, then he can play whatever position he wants to play."
Ciraldo said that the former Australian Schoolboys skipper had remained focused despite the constant attention and commentary on his form.
"He's had to deal with way too much attention than what a 20-year-old should have to deal with and he has passed with flying colours," Ciraldo added.
"So, what gives me great confidence in Lachie's ability to be a great footballer in the future is how he's dealt with that over the last six months, and he keeps going learning the way he's learning there's no reason he can't be a long-term No.7.
"Right now, we've got to do a better job of supporting him through this period, and get the 13 guys on the field to play to the best of their ability, and if they do that, then he'll probably look like he did five weeks ago when everyone said he is a long-term halfback."
