The doubters of the Western Bulldogs have come out of the woodwork, just in time for the club’s biggest challenge in a month, when they head west to face the West Coast Eagles in the AFL match of the round at Domain Stadium on Sunday.
The record of any interstate team in Perth is historically poor, more so this season with the Eagles sitting in second and their co-tenants Fremantle riding high on top of the ladder.
The Bulldogs will go in as underdogs, perhaps a safety blanket for those ‘I told you so’ people on Monday morning if they happen to go down.
But there seems to be a real self-belief about the Bulldogs that suggests this trip west could be a little different to the usual beatings experienced by Victorian clubs down the years.
For starters, the Bulldogs are one of the in-form teams in the AFL, winning eight of their last nine games.
The Bulldogs have toyed with their opposition in recent weeks, obliterating Essendon, Port Adelaide and Melbourne.
Though, the Eagles are a different kettle of fish, one that sits above the Bulldogs on the ladder with an impressive 14 wins and a draw from 19 starts.
They play a similar brand of football to the Bulldogs with elite spread from the contest, breathtaking movement from defence to attack and a sound defensive structure around the stoppages that makes it hard for opposition sides to find space.
The playing styles might be a byproduct of both coaches – Luke Beveridge of the Bulldogs and Adam Simpson of the Eagles – having previously worked as assistants under Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn.
The Bulldogs play their brand of football well, they love to thrill and dare, but they are not downhill skiers, taking care of the defensive needs before applying the flair.
They used their assets to good advantage back in round one, the first of only four teams to beat the Eagles this season.
The theme of the lead up to Sunday’s blockbuster has centred on the Bulldogs ability to translate their Etihad Stadium-friendly game plan to the longer deck in Perth.
The question is a valid one because 10 of the Bulldogs 13 wins have come at the Docklands.
Bulldogs defender Dale Morris is confident his side’s game plan can be successful away from their home ground, citing a win in the wet over the Sydney Swans at the SCG as an example.
“We aim to play that way no matter where we are, whether that’s at Etihad, whether that’s at the ‘G, it doesn’t matter where it is,” he said.
Why should it not translate to Domain Stadium?
The Eagles have no trouble executing a similar style of play at the ground.
The long term weather forecast is for 18 and fine, so the conditions should not play a big part.
The Bulldogs are not squeaky clean at Etihad either, having lost twice under the roof, a fact that is generally neglected when the doubters analyse their six losses.
They bring up the loss to Melbourne at the MCG, like it holds more weight than a win over Richmond at the same venue.
They talk of the losses to Geelong at Simonds Stadium, Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval and Hawthorn down in Tasmania, but many a side has come off second best as visitors at those intimidating grounds.
The more the doubters talk, the more the evidence stacks up though, so the clash with the Eagles provides an opportunity for the Bulldogs to offer some clarity as to whether or not they are the real deal this season.
They can really send a message that top four is their goal and validate this meteoric rise from also-rans to top four challenger.
The doubters might even start to believe the Bulldogs are a genuine top four chance if they can sneak a win over the Eagles, but Morris and his side cannot afford to look further ahead.
“It’s probably the toughest trip heading west,” he said.
“It’s going to be a tough challenge for the group, but we’re up for it.”
Whatever side of the fence you are on – a believer or a doubter – it’s great for the Bulldogs, who have battled over recent years, to once again be in the conversation and relevant again.
