They were gallant in an absolute thriller at The G Saturday night, but the youngest side to make the finals fell to a hardened Adelaide who held on to clinch a 7 point victory. The Bulldogs seemed deeply effected by the sense of occasion – their first finals appearance in 5 years. With an average age of just 23, almost the entire side had never played an AFL final. And it showed – silly mistakes, costly turn-overs and 20 missed shots at goal, before a fever-pitch crowd of over 60,000 screaming maniacs (including us). Despite all their nervous decision-making, they ran and ran, crashed through packs & gave their all – consequently taking the lead by 8 points with just 10 minutes to go. We thought, hoping against hope, they had it. But the Crows had other ideas – bigger-bodied, finals-experienced, and just cool-headed enough to snatch victory. The final score – Bulldogs: 14.18 (102), Adelaide 16:13(109). If you can bare to watch it – here’s the gripping final quarter.

This coming weekend, The Crows play The Hawkes at The G in a Friday night sudden-death battle. And North Melbourne, who upset the Tigers yesterday, travel to play Sydney. The winners go to a Preliminary Final. The losers, season over.

Fires out.

Caught up in finals fever this week. Bulldogs faithful marching from Fed Square to The G this Saturday at 5pm, in preparation & celebration of the first Doggies finals appearance in years. Got our tickets for the game, sitting inside the Punt Road arc, to the left of the southern point post. Will Minson recalled to the ruck for this epic clash against the Crows. Captain Bob Murphy returns from injury. It’ll be a tough & frenetic sudden-death final, the winner surviving to play the following weekend against Hawthorn or Westcoast (depending on which team loses that qualifying final in Perth tonight).

Fire out.

Rare video, shot from the audience at Strawberry Festival, Beijing 2012. Must have been loud out there – sound is clipping pretty hard. One of our favourite festival shows ever.

Footy fever gripping Melbourne town. This Saturday night, a Red-White-and-Blue march from Fed Square to The G, lead by Bulldogs club president Peter Gordon. We’ll be there & posting here. It’s the first week of AFL September Finals, just gets bigger from here.

Fires out.

Posted last week, the AFL final 8 was set, not sorted. Turns out it was. After 9 games of football across the weekend, the final 8 remained completely unchanged from the week before. In a controversial move, 8th placed North Melbourne rested 9 of it’s star players, knowing it couldn’t lose the spot while not wanting to advance to the prospect of an Adelaide home final. That set the tone for a few other sides in the 8, who also rested players – including the Bulldogs. The Dogs were bloody lucky though. They lost what should have been an ‘unloseable’ game against the bottom side. If Adelaide had done what they were expected to do – beat Geelong – the Doggies would have been off to Adelaide for the first final. (click below for highlights)

Brisbane Lions beat Western Bulldogs in tight contest, Saturday 5th September 2015.

Fortunately the Crows lost, the Cats turning in a blinder to farewell a retiring group of superstars. The season officially done last night – with the Bombers winning a cliffhanger against the Pies, finals kick off this coming weekend. We’ll be at ‘The G’ Saturday night for the first Bulldogs final in years, against a formidable Adelaide side. Whodathunkit.

Fires out.

A big weekend of AFL gone & the top 8 now decided, this weekend’s final round will determine who lands where, who plays who – and who gets a home final in the first week. At this stage, the Bulldogs look likely to host a very dangerous Adelaide Crows in a cut-throat encounter. That’s if the Dogs win this weekend. If they lose (and Adelaide beat Geelong), Adelaide may well host the Dogs – and that’ll be tough. North Melbourne & the Tigs are also in the mix. Sydney need to win to hang onto 4th spot & the double chance – especially if the Tigs spank North this Friday night, or the Dogs win by some freakish margin. Only Freo, sitting atop the ladder, will hold their position regardless of this weekend’s results.

AFL Ladder at the close of Round 22, Sunday 30th August 2015.

It’s intriguing stuff for Bulldogs fans, who never imagined they’d be part of September action this year.

Fires out.

Dear friends, and Friday night jam partners Stalk & Kim are currently swanning about France (and rubbing it in). Just took this pic from Stalk’s Facebook. They’re back weekend after next – Friday nights in Abbotsford not the same without em, as local ‘supergroup’ Us takes a well earned break in their absence.

Paris, France – last night, Pic by Stalk.

Posted earlier this week – Melbourne’s weather is on the improve. I take that back today. Rain & 11 degrees, same tomorrow & Saturday. Hurray.

Fires out.

After a meteoric rise to the top 4 over the past 2 months, the Dogs succumbed to a superior West Coast Eagles yesterday. The home side were too good. The Dogs making simple unforced errors, for several turnover goals by half time – the sort of thing they might get away with against lesser sides. They still looked a slim chance, 16 points down in the 3rd, before West Coast stepped on the gas, kicking an impressive 25 goals for the game. There were 38 goals scored in this fast flowing, ferocious encounter.

Western Bulldog, Stewart Crameri pulls one down in the goal mouth, yesterday.

The Doggies now sit 6th with a big test this Saturday against North Melbourne (who beat ladder-leaders Fremantle yesterday). Things are hotting up. Just two rounds remain of this AFL home-and-away season before the intrigue of September finals. Melbourne’s weather on the up, there’s a familiar feeling in the air. Go Dogs.

Fires out.

Was lucky enough to attend a pre-game corporate luncheon at Etihad Stadium yesterday – many thanks to brother Gav. Rubbing shoulders with footy heroes Chris Grant, Brad Johnson, Steve Wallace. Unbelievable. Then the game started. The Bulldogs obliterated Melbourne, the game pretty much over in the first quarter. They were so good, me and Gav had trouble believing what we were seeing. I was quietly worried before the game, the Dees having rolled us convincingly earlier this season. The Doggies took their foot off the gas a little in the 3rd quarter before running away with a staggering 98 point victory.

Western Bulldogs vs Melbourne yesterday at Etihad Stadium – click for video highlights.

Recovering today from what turned into a massive day yesterday. Not to mention the days before that. The guys next door opened their bar Saturday night – a whole other story for later.

Fires out.

Delivered the play-list last night for the bar next door. Grand opening Saturday night. Should be a big one in true Serbian style. Had a quick beer with the guys then headed over to Mr Boogie Man on Hoddle St & caught Chapter Ray’s set at 8:30. Boys did it well, always a great sounding, tight & engaging show. Must say, the guys at Mr Boogie Man have done a huge amount of work there, bringing the place back to life. It’s been a continuous live venue for 20 years now, under a few different names. The previous owners had really run it into the ground (formerly IDGAFF). Good to see it back with decent PA, lights, stage and great atmosphere. Go check it out.

Chapter Ray, Mr Boogie Man Bar 14 August 2015.

Fires out.

Unbelievable – Bulldogs lock in 4th place after Sunday’s destruction of Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium. And thanks to Mr Mat Ward, we were there to witness. Haven’t seen anything like this from the Dogs since ’97. And this was even more convincing than that. Round 20 (4th last round of the season) plays out this weekend, as the Dogs take on a much-improved Melbourne. The Dees were too good for the Dogs earlier this year. The repeat clash should be a riveting affair. Click the pic for highlights from Sunday’s clash…

Jarrad Grant pulls one down in the forward line, Etihad Stadium – Sunday 9th Aug 2015.

Fires out.