Friday Fallout: From written off to red hot! Dogs back on the rise to September

Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs

Many pundits had written the Dogs’ season off during their horror patch, riddled with injuries, from Round 5 to Round 8, but things can turn very quickly in the AFL world.

Now, the Dogs are well and truly back, winning their last three games and are looking in good stead to make the finals from here, currently sitting at fifth on the ladder with a record of eight wins and five losses.

The six-point victory against the Hawks on Friday night was an incredible display of guts and determination from the Dogs, as they were looking down the barrel at halftime after the Hawks kicked away late in the second term, but managed to pull off a thrilling comeback, clipping the Hawks’ wings.

However, inaccuracy was what pestered Hawthorn all night, with multiple shots going out on the full and a total of 17 behinds from their 71-point score (9.17). If the Hawks had their shooting boots on, then this conversation about the in-form Dogs may not be happening.

But the major talking point out of the match is that the Dogs’ will to win in closely contested games is unmatched. This is now their sixth victory of the season by six points or less, signalling to any opposition team that the Dogs are not a side you want to be fighting tooth and nail against, late in a tight game.

Nick Watson against Michael Sellwood was a spectacle for all fans as well throughout the night, with the pair regularly starting fights between each other, and even causing a team-on-team biff at the end of the first quarter.

Cody Weightman also worked through his first game back since the Dogs’ elimination final in 2024, collecting 11 disposals and managing to get through his return-game injury free.

The Dogs’ next game is a Thursday night battle at Marvel against the Crows. If they go on to win that matchup, then September should firmly be on the radar for the Dogs.

Connor Scanlon