THE CLUB
Formed: 1883
Joined AFL: 1925
Premierships: one - 1954
Last finals appearance: 2006, 1st semi-final.

2006 at a glance:
Tipped as the season’s big improvers following a barnstorming finish to 2005, the Bulldogs proved just that, ending the home-and-away season in eighth spot with 13 wins – a tally that would have been good enough for fifth the year before. The Dogs had two four-game winning streaks in the season proper and thumped Collingwood in the elimination final, before getting a footballing lesson in the first semi-final from West Coast.

2007 to date:
After their impressive 2006, the run-and-gun Dogs were tagged the Victorian-team-most-likely headed into 2007. Bulldogs fans, therefore, could be forgiven for scratching their heads at present. Rodney Eade’s side sits at 5-5 in ninth spot, having beaten Geelong and Collingwood but also having lost to an undermanned St Kilda and, on the weekend, to lowly Carlton.

The coach:
Another of Lions coach Leigh Matthews’ Hawthorn teammates to make the coaching grade, Rodney Eade has proved himself adept at coaching two different styles of football. At the Sydney Swans, between 1996 and 2002, it was largely about grinding out results and capitalising on the talents of Tony Lockett. With the Bulldogs, Eade has made the most of a list big on run, speed and skill but short on big, key-position bodies.

Missing in action:
The Bulldogs have few worries on the injury front, with talented forward Robert Murphy a chance to resume from a hamstring strain – he’s listed for a test. Club games record-holder Chris Grant will return from his abdominal problem through the VFL, while utility Brett Montgomery has retired.

The gun:
Scott West has been so incredibly and consistently good in his 14-and-a-bit years as a Bulldog that his 16 disposals against Sydney a fortnight ago – an okay tally for most midfielders – was considered way below par. Has an uncanny knack for finding the football, as indicated by a season average of 28.6 touches per game, and usually uses it to good effect too. Twice a Brownlow Medal runner-up, five times an All-Australian; he will present a big job for at least one Lion.

The bolter:
There are few better advertisements for the rookie system than Dale Morris, who missed being drafted in 2000, spent four years at the Bulldogs’ VFL affiliate Werribee and was finally rookie listed in late 2004. Since then he’s played 41 games, represented Australia in International Rules and last week kept Carlton’s Coleman Medal favourite Brendan Fevola to one goal for the second game in a row. Unlikely to get Jonathan Brown, but a possible minder for several other Lions forwards – tall or small.

Strengths:
Run, run, run and then more run. The statistic commentators most like to quote in reference to the Bulldogs is the running bounce – the likes of Jordan McMahon and Lindsay Gilbee are experts at carrying the ball at pace and delivering with precision. West is an elite midfielder, skipper Brad Johnson is a uniquely talented marking small forward and Brian Harris is an underrated defender who backs himself in aerial contests. The Bulldogs are the kind of side that doesn’t mind a shootout, as evidenced by their high-scoring 2005 and 2006 wins over the Lions.

Weaknesses:
The Bulldogs may have won a shootout or two, but they are by no means invincible in goal-fests, as Carlton showed last week. The Dogs can run as much as they like – if they can’t stop mid-sized defenders marking hopeful high punts (ie Matthew Lappin), they will give up plenty of points at the other end. Rodney Eade’s side also has a dearth of big forwards and, apart from Harris, a lack of backline gorillas. West Coast’s 74-point demolition of the Bulldogs in last year’s first semi-final was a clinic in hardness around the contest and 120-minute intensity. Same goes for the loss to Sydney a fortnight ago.

The Queensland factor:
No surprises here – ex-Lion Jason Akermanis is the most high-profile Quenslander on a Sunshine State-flavoured list that also includes Mitch Hahn, Paul O’Shea, Tom Williams and the rookie-listed Jarrod Harbrow, Marty Pask and Michael West. Travis Baird played two games for the Lions as an elevated rookie in 2005.

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the club