The Western Bulldogs (formerly Footscray) have a rich 100-year history in the VFL/AFL filled with many ups and downs. Their supporters have been through a lot from fighting to keep their club from disappearing in 1989 to ultimate premiership glory in 2016.
The club from the western suburbs will be known as Footscray when they take on Collingwood at the MCG on Friday to commemorate their long-standing place in football's history.
The Bulldogs will don a specially designed guernsey to pay tribute to all those involved in the club's 100 years and will welcome club greats and legends to the ground to celebrate.
But with a history of only two premierships and many stories on either side of that ultimate glory, we thought we'd make a list.
Here is a compilation of the Bulldogs' most memorable, significant and defining games throughout their history...
8. Semi-Final, 2021 โ Brisbane Lions vs. Western Bulldogs
In a match made famous by the now-departed Bailey Smith, Bulldogs fans dared to believe their magical 2016 run could be on again. With the season interrupted and relocated due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Dogs had hit form late in the season and found themselves in a tight semi-final against the Lions at the Gabba. It was going down to the wire, but then in came Bailey Smith. From nearly 50 metres out on his opposite foot, he slotted a goal from the boundary and a legendary Bulldogs moment was born. Smith turned to the crowd and pointed to his forearm, declaring he had "ice in his veins," while the Gabba crowd showered him with boos and middle fingers, in what is now an iconic image. The Bulldogs were on their way to a preliminary final in Adelaide and though their run ended in an eventual Grand Final loss to the Demons in Perth, this win along the way was as good as any before it.
