THE WESTERN Bulldogs are confident in their ability to win their first final in five years.

Sitting sixth, the Bulldogs have been one of the surprise packets of 2015 and in-form defender Easton Wood believes his young and inexperienced team can carry that form into September.
 
"Each game we go in to we certainly felt, ‘Why can't we win? Why won't we win?” Wood said. "And that's only going to apply in the finals too.
 
"We don't seem to be held back by preconceived ideas, there's just a lot of confidence in this young group.
 
"With finals coming up we'll just take that in our stride."
 
With the make-up of the eight to be finalised this weekend, the Bulldogs need to beat the bottom-of-the-ladder Brisbane Lions on Saturday to assure them a home final.
 
Despite winning 11 of 13 clashes at Etihad Stadium this season, Wood said the club wasn’t bothered where they hosted a final.
 
"I don’t think it matters too much," Wood said.
 
"Obviously we're used to playing at Etihad a bit more, but if you're going to have any impact in the finals you've got to win at the MCG."
 
Wood's form this season has mirrored the team's performance, with calls for the 25-year-old to be named All Australian for the first time.
 
The athletic medium defender has nearly been impassable across half-back, with intercept marking a hallmark of his dramatically improved game.
 
"Being able to play consistently (has been good), I've had a fair few injuries over the course of my career," Wood said, who has battled hamstring issues in previous seasons.
 
"This time last year I was just fighting for my spot in the team (and) I'd been dropped back to the VFL.
 
"It's nice to hear that kind of thing."