After losing their coach, captain, a Brownlow Medallist, CEO and over 800 games of experience at the end of last season, the immediate future was looking very bleak for the Western Bulldogs.
Their 2014 season had concluded with a six-point loss to Greater Western Sydney in a match which will forever be remembered for Jake Stringer dropping an uncontested mark with 30 seconds remaining, in which the scores were level.
In the immediate aftermath, captain Ryan Griffen requested to be traded to the Giants, where he was to be reunited with former Western Bulldogs assistant coach Leon Cameron and former teammates Callan Ward and Dylan Addison.
That was then followed by Brendan McCartney resigning as head coach, following an unsuccessful three years at the helm of a side which was still reeling from a hat-trick of preliminary final losses and the retirement of captain Brad Johnson.
Communication issues between McCartney and Griffen were what led both parties to leave the Whitten Oval twenty-four hours apart, seemingly leaving a trail of destruction behind them in the process.
Their departures followed on from the retirement of Daniel Giansiracusa, who remains at the club today in an assistant coaching role, and the departures of Shaun Higgins and 2008 Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney to North Melbourne and Essendon respectively.
Then, in January this year, their CEO, Simon Garlick, resigned after presiding over a difficult period for the club in which the unfortunately-timed arrivals of the Gold Coast Suns and GWS Giants robbed most clubs of access to the majority of the first round draft picks from the 2010 and 2011 (and subsequently later) AFL drafts.
The Western Bulldogs were among the clubs that suffered, losing Jarrod Harbrow and Callan Ward, neither of whom had reached the 100-game milestone until they did at their new clubs, to the Suns and Giants respectively.
And if that wasn’t enough, they also lost their reigning best-and-fairest, Tom Liberatore, to a season-ending ACL injury during the NAB Challenge.
The only positives to come out of the Whitten Oval during the off-season was the arrival of 2013 number one draft pick Tom Boyd from the GWS Giants, and the appointments of the untried Luke Beveridge as coach and Bob Murphy as captain.
The tumultuous events of the off-season culminated in the club being considered one of the favourites to win this year’s wooden spoon.
But nobody would have forecast how the Bulldogs have started this season, and the Beveridge era. The club has won four of their five openers and are emerging as one of the teams to watch in 2015.
They defeated the West Coast Eagles, Richmond and the previously-unbeaten Adelaide Crows before scoring what could be one of the most famous wins in the club’s history, knocking off the heavily favoured Sydney Swans whom they hadn’t beaten since 2010, at a ground where they hadn’t won since 2008 and were beaten by 92 points in their previous visit, way back in Round 10, 2012.
Bookmakers had listed the Bulldogs at $6 to beat last year’s beaten grand finalists, despite the club coming off its impressive win over the Crows in addition to the Swans backing up from the arduous trip west, where they lost to Fremantle.
The Bulldogs appeared headed for a long afternoon when the Swans kicked the first two goals of the match, but Luke Beveridge’s pups would work their way back into the match and take the lead by quarter-time.
As expected, the Swans challenged, but the Bulldogs held their nerve to stay in front before briefly losing the lead midway through the final quarter. In the end, a mid-air goal kicked by Easton Wood on the goal-line, their only goal for the quarter, proved to be the difference as the club eventually prevailed by just four points.
The against-all-odds win came six days after they brutalised the red-hot Adelaide Crows under the roof at Etihad Stadium, and was their fourth from as many matches this season in which they started as outsiders.
Captain Bob Murphy labelled the win as being easily “one of the best wins in his home-and-away career”, and it’s these wins over heavyweight clubs that can build any team’s confidence and set them up for the rest of the season.
That being said, cast your mind way back to Round 7, 2012 when the Adelaide Crows, coming off their worst season in club history, thrashed reigning premiers the Geelong Cats at home then went on to narrowly miss out on a grand final berth.
Perhaps the Western Bulldogs, coming off four seasons without finals football and arguably its most tumultuous off-season since claiming the wooden spoon in 2003, could embark on a similar path.
The next five rounds will see the club take on St Kilda, Fremantle, Melbourne, the GWS Giants and Port Adelaide, with all but the games against the Dees and Power to be played at Etihad Stadium.
Given the impressive manner in which the Western Bulldogs has started this season, it’s possible the club could win at least three of those five, thus possessing a 7-3 record entering their Round 11 bye.
Who would have thought that to be possible given the events of the off-season in which they lost their coach, captain, CEO, a former Brownlow Medallist and over 800 games of experience at the end of season 2014?
Footscrazy
Guest
That's what your types said about West Coast, Adelaide and Sydney.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
True, the bulldogs were very good, but I think this is more about the Swans to be honest. Mid-season last year we were all talking about the Swans and their depth. Eddie was having a big whinge over COLA and the academies, which means many of the Victorian Power Brokers also thought the same thing. That depth this year has diminished for various reasons, non more so than their inability to reshuffle the deck last year in my humble opinion. I personally would like to know the full reasons as to why the Swans did not challenge this decision, because right now I see it hurting you.
Peter Baudinette
Roar Guru
Rick, I'm of the belief that there probably is depth pushing the selectors but not necessarily across all comers. Rucks and defence, definitely not. But guys like McGlynn and Cunningham were walk up starters last season. Cunningham gets a gurnsey this week due to the late withdrawal of Reid. Goodes comes in at the expense of McGlynn but was formerly kept out by Towers. Heeney is keeping anyone of these guys out. If one of Richards or Grundy were to go down around now, then they get desperate. Reid being injured means they are missing that tall defender and it comes down to the young shoulders of Rohan. There simply isn't anyone else. I agree with what you are saying but I probably wouldn't cast "Depth" as the problem and look more specifically at depth of defense under current circumstances. Sorry to make a Bulldogs story about the Swans..... How good were the Dogs!!
djos77
Roar Rookie
Well played Dogs. I thought they would be a 7-8 win team especially without Liberatore. As a Brisbane supporter I wish that my team would play with the same heart as the young Bulldogs. I hate the description of "everyone's second favourite team" but given that my team deliver 120 minutes of guaranteed pain on a weekly basis I've developed a soft spot for the Dogs! Bring on the Saints.
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
Capable? Possibly. Likely? No. That would require Port & Freo having very off days- possible, but particularly in Freo's case, highly unlikely!
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
I would of thought not trading anyone in would've benefitted their play for this season (particularly early on) at least. No readjusting to someone new, more time to bed down Buddy and Tippet. Sure it might affect them down the track, but they like to get in experienced players anyway so there would always be a quicker fix available.
Footscrazy
Guest
"Given the impressive manner in which the Western Bulldogs has started this season, it’s possible the club could win at least three of those five, thus possessing a 7-3 record entering their Round 11 bye" Possible* of winning 3 of the next 5 ? After the evidence of the last 2 weeks I'd suggest the Mdogs are capable of winning them all
mattyb
Guest
I think the doggies should have done a little better last year but didn't.This year we have gone back to our correct levels of progression minus a couple of lazy players.I think we have set ourselves up nicely for a tilt at the 8.
Big Dallo
Guest
That seems to be the problem though mark. We almost seem to be waiting around for AJ just incase he makes a comeback. I don't see any young blokes being blooded in defence at the moment. This will eventually cost the swans dearly maybe not this year so much but in the years to come.
Mark
Guest
I'm not having a go at you but that's exactly what has been happening. Tom Mitchell has played his first seniors game in 12 months. And Issac Heeney is someone who is causing a senior player like McGlynn to lose his spot. What we need is better defenders putting the heat on Reg Grundy, Heath Shaw and Dane Rampe. What I wouldn't give for AJ's knee to magically heal.
Mark
Guest
I like the Dogs but to be talking about top 4 is rather optimistic. You'll still be doing very well to make top 8, though I do hope it happens.
Penster
Guest
Forgot to enter my tips and still got 7/9 courtesy of away teams - thanks Doggies!
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I see what you are saying Michael, and I can explain yesterdays loss about as well as your GF loss last year. What is clearly evident is the players are not playing consistent football. This is not normal for the Swans and I'll tell you what fixes this problem better than anything. Depth: players knocking on the door begging for a game. Players just asking to be selected to prove their worth to Horse. I don't see this with the Swans and not being able to trade for other players to fill gaps has added to these woes. Young talent might step up, but this is speculative and one wouldn't expect these types of players to be causing selection problems for the more experienced players. I'm going to reserve judgement on game plans for another 4 weeks. After this I'm going to be doing more detailed analysis on structures and players. If I was Horse though, I'd be dropping a few players and making way for guys who look to have a bit of class with the ball. Work ethic is not enough, and 6 of your players appear to be having real brain-fart moments in the tight contest. It's almost likely the Bulldogs and Essendon hit you with the stupid hammer.
Michael huston
Guest
But Rick, do you honestly believe that's why Sydney lost? I'd say they lost because at least half our side didn't know how to use the ball yesterday. Those in our best 22. Not being able to bring in anyone new doesn't justify the players we DO have playing poorly.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
I take my hat off to this team at present. Still only 5 rounds, so I'm not jumping on any bandwagons yet, but this is quite an achievement. To not only beat the Swans, but to do it at the SCG and also in the rain against a very good team in the wet just says it all. I freely admit I had this team as a bottom 4 side. This may still happen, but it's more likely they will make the 8 at this stage than the bottom 4, which is a serious shock to me! I'm very impressed with their start and more importantly the way they are playing. The counter argument to this is Saint Kilda were flying at the start of last year and it ended in tears. Lets hope the Dogs can keep up this standard of football. Now for the Swans. I had them in my top 4, but only just. My biggest issue for them was always going to be the lack of trading. For what ever reasons the AFL decided, the inability of the Swans to trade has resulted in their list not improving. Every other major contender appears to have strengthened their list, including the premiers who crushed another one of these contenders last night. North and the Swans could be the two teams sliding, and if they aren't, they are starting to make life difficult for themselves when it comes to top 4. We all know it's highly unlikely anyone will win the premiership from outside the 4 and for these teams it's the premiership or nothing.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
It's exciting to see the way the Doggies are surging at the moment. To knock Sydney off their perch at the SCG is no mean feat, even if the Swans were off a return trip from Perth and seem to have early season hydrophobia. It also makes a bit of a mockery of the woe-is-me-doom-and-gloom about free agency. Remembering Port were subject to a bit of a raid immediately before their surge in 2013, similarly the 'Dogs over the off season. As with many things the effects play out in more complicated ways than headlines and media reactionaries are able to get their heads around in the rush to squawk the loudest.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
We're probably a year away from making a serious run at the top 4. With a fully fit Libba back next season, and with Boyd getting 30 games under his belt, that might be the opening of the next window.
Me Too
Guest
They're young and raw and full of enthusiasm - they'll fall away - but it's great to watch them at the moment.
Dan
Guest
Lower ranked sides have often jumped up into the top 4, it's happened a few times in the last ten years. Eagles, Crows 2011/12 most recently.
Swampy
Guest
Absolutely thought the Dogs would be close to the 8 this season. Anyone who watched them play could see the emerging talent at their disposal. I thought the loss of young Libba may have dented their confidence but I'm not sure they've even noticed he's not playing. Let's remember that this is what everyone saw over the end of 2013 for the Dogs happening last season - not this season. People expected what is happening now to occur a season ago. Clearly though Brendan McCartney wasn't the man and lost the change room at some point. Jake Stringer is a star. McCrae is on his path to being nominated as one of the elite midfielders in the AFL. And there are many others. The Dogs are still weak in defence and Boyd is still learning so they aren't there yet. But boy are they well on the way. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.