Emboldened by their record against the AFL's heavyweights, Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is confident they can again make a deep September run from outside the top four.
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The Bulldogs are daring to dream of repeating their 2016 heroics, when they won a drought-breaking flag from seventh on the ladder.
Sunday's emphatic win over Adelaide ensured another seventh-placed finish and locked in an elimination final against GWS on Saturday week.
The Dogs thumped the Giants when they met in round 22 and Beveridge noted that while they had suffered narrow losses to Collingwood and a heavy defeat to West Coast, they had beaten all of their remaining top-eight rivals.
"Last time, there was a lot of uncertainty," Beveridge said of the run to the 2016 finals.
"This time around, it's different. Regardless of our demographic, there's a really strong resolve and belief in the group.
"It's four games in a row ... we won't look past GWS but that's a distinct possibility, that we can be the team at the end there.
"And as you chalk up the finals victories, it becomes more probable and it's less a fantasy.
"Right at this point in time, I'm hoping that all our players believe that we're every bit as much a chance as the top four and we'll approach the series accordingly."
The Dogs benefited strongly from the pre-finals bye in 2016, which allowed them to get back several key players for their elimination final in Perth.
Beveridge has had a healthier list at his disposal this time around with skipper Easton Wood among nine Dogs to play every game.
With many of the Bulldogs pups set for their first taste of finals footy, Beveridge was confident inexperience wouldn't hold them back.
"It hasn't mattered in the past," he said.
"It's something we won't shine a light on. It's an exciting time and I think the younger guys get caught up in that and the vibe and the passion from our supporter base.
"The younger players definitely feed off that. We'll try and foster and encourage that atmosphere definitely over the next couple of weeks."
Beveridge said Caleb Daniel (hamstring) had resumed running and was a chance to return against the Giants but Tom Liberatore (knee) was less likely.
Australian Associated Press
