AS THE Western Bulldogs prepare for Saturday's preliminary final against Greater Western Sydney, history tells us the penultimate weekend of the season doesn't hold a lot of fond memories for the red, white and blue faithful.
Of the 10 prelims the Dogs have contested since they joined the VFL in 1926, they've won just one – and even then, the season didn't end in glory.
Their triumph in 1961 over reigning premier Melbourne led to Grand Final heartbreak against Hawthorn a week later.
With Luke Beveridge's men primed to break the club's prelim hoodoo, AFL.com.au looks back at the past seven occasions the Bulldogs have fallen at the second-last hurdle.
1985 – Hawthorn 16.19 (109) def Footscray 15.9 (99)
After finishing the home-and-away season in second place, the Mick Malthouse-coached Bulldogs faced their qualifying final conquerors, the Hawks, at a sun-drenched VFL Park. Led by club great Doug Hawkins, Brownlow medallist Brad Hardie and Coleman medallist Simon Beasley, the Dogs were a relatively experienced outfit playing in a first finals series since 1976. The Dogs were in the contest all afternoon, until a previously quiet Leigh Matthews ran riot in the last quarter. Coming off the bench, 'Lethal Leigh' kicked two goals and set up several others to see the Hawks into the Grand Final by 10 points.
Terry Wallace kicks in the 1985 preliminary final. Picture: AFL Photos
1992 – Geelong 22.17 (149) def Footscray 12.13 (85)
Making their first finals appearance since the disappointment of 1985, the Bulldogs finished in second place under the guidance of favourite son Terry Wheeler. After a 10-goal belting at the hands of Geelong in the qualifying final, the Dogs accounted for St Kilda in a semi final before a rematch with the Cats in the Prelim. Brownlow medallists Tony Liberatore and Scott Wynd were prominent in the midfield and a young Chris Grant was also amongst the best with two goals. However, the Dogs were again no match for Malcolm Blight's men, going down by 64 points.
Coach Terry Wheeler, captain Scott Wynd and the Dogs after the 1992 prelim. Picture: AFL Photos
1997 – Adelaide 12.21 (93) def Western Bulldogs 13.13 (91)
In its first season under the Western Bulldogs moniker, the Terry Wallace-coached outfit finished third at the end of the home-and-away season on the back of some stunning, but 'unsociable' football. Tony Liberatore and Jose Romero led a hard-nosed midfield, while the class was provided by club greats Chris Grant, Scott West and Brad Johnson. After moving straight into the prelim with a six-goal win over the Sydney Swans in the qualifying final, the Dogs were red-hot favourites to move in to their first Grand Final since 1961 against Adelaide. Despite being in control for most the day, a wayward Crows outfit kicked four goals to nothing in the final term to run out two-point winners over the devastated Bulldogs.
Andrew McLeod consoles Rohan Smith after the 1997 prelim. Picture: AFL Photos
1998 – Adelaide 24.17 (161) def Western Bulldogs 13.15 (93)
A second-place finish in Wallace's second full season as coach saw the Dogs move straight into the prelim two years running after easily accounting for West Coast in the qualifying final. With virtually the same side that lost to Adelaide 12 months earlier, the result was unfortunately the same for the Scraggers as the Crows won through to the Grand Final to collect back-to-back flags.
Andrew McLeod tormented the Dogs with seven goals in the 1998 prelim. Picture: AFL Photos
2008 – Geelong 12.11 (83) def Western Bulldogs 7.12 (54)
Fast and furious footy under Rodney Eade saw the Bulldogs finish second with hardened midfielders Matthew Boyd and Daniel Cross complemented by Brownlow medallists Adam Cooney and Jason Akermanis. All Australians Brian Lake and Dale Morris anchored the backline, while Brad Johnson led a small and unpredictable attack. After stumbling badly against Hawthorn in the qualifying final, the Bulldogs bounced back against the Swans the following week to book a prelim with the Cats. While never really out of the game, the Dogs trailed at every break to lose by 29 points.
Tom Lonergan consoles former teammate Tim Callan after the 2008 prelim. Picture: AFL Photos
2009 – St Kilda 9.6 (60) def Western Bulldogs 7.11 (53)
The Bulldogs developed a harder edge in their bid to go one step further than the previous season, but finals nemesis Geelong was too good in the qualifying final. The Dogs easily disposed of the Brisbane Lions in a semi-final to find themselves in a prelim against minor premier St Kilda. In one of the most brutal games of the season, the Dogs failed to take their abundance of chances at various stages of the game and it cost them dearly. Nick Riewoldt's soccered goal in the dying minutes devastated all involved with the red, white and blue.
Nick Riewoldt celebrates his match-winner in the 2009 prelim. Picture: AFL Photos
2010 – St Kilda 13.10 (88) def Western Bulldogs 8.16 (64)
After finally securing a much-needed key forward in the form of Barry Hall, the banged-up Dogs limped into September, with Cooney missing with his troublesome knee. A qualifying-final thrashing at the hands of Collingwood was followed by a five-point semi-final win over the Swans. A second successive prelim against St Kilda was tight until half-time, before the Saints booted seven goals to one in the third quarter to end the Dogs' resistance and their chance of breaking the AFL's longest flag drought. Eade departed before the end of the 2011 season and that signalled the start of a rebuild that sees the Dogs well placed this year to give their lone premiership cup some much-needed company.
Robert Murphy and his teammates contemplate another loss in 2010. Picture: AFL Photos
