After retreating to their shells over the last few weeks, the Bulldogs went back to the well, with speed, run and carry and a 23-goal haul against Richmond on Sunday, in a 41-goal match feast that meant the Etihad Stadium scoreboard operators barely had time to draw breath all afternoon.
It was a brand of football that Richmond coach Damian Hardwick admitted he never saw coming. The Tigers had scouted the stop-start Bulldogs of the last few weeks, not the sleek and slick outfit that had prevailed for the past few years.
There was also the positional wildcard of Lindsay Gilbee, the erstwhile creative half-back, who instead played as a deep forward and kicked six goals - including five before half-time. His previous best in 193 games was four. His career total of 116 tells how unexpected was such a haul.
There were some who believed the Bulldogs hadn't cut deep enough at the selection table after their slow start to the season and Gilbee was among those in the frame. Six goals should get a few off his back for at least the next little bit.
The interesting statistic that emerged after the game - why it had escaped scrutiny pre-game is one of the mysteries of footy - is that the Dogs had won as many quarters this year as Collingwood. Yet the Pies were top and the Dogs 12th at the start of the weekend.
Not sure what could be read into that except for, perhaps, the Western Bulldogs being quite a bit better than the ladder indicated (although, it must be said, post-match, that eight of those quarters were against the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast).
The Dogs are now 3-4, with a massive fortnight to come. They're off to Perth for the second time this season to face a resurgent West Coast at Patersons Stadium and coach Rodney Eade will already be pondering whether the all-out attack approach will work on the spacious surrounds at Subiaco, particularly against a side whose full-ground press is one of the best going around.
By the way, the Bulldogs are 10-4 (one draw) against West Coast in Perth, with a surprise loss there in round 13, 2010.
The Hawks follow, so a split over the next two weeks will do the Dogs nicely and will keep them in touch. Win both and the confidence levels around the Whitten Oval will soar and the assault on a top-four berth will be on in earnest.
Stressing the coach
At the risk of a bit of self-promotion, those with a hunger to learn what it is like at the coalface of AFL coaching should take the time to watch the latest Talking Footy interview on this website featuring AFL legend Leigh Matthews and Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson.
For Hawthorn supporters, the entire interview is gold. But those interested in a broader perspective on football would enjoy the last few minutes in which Clarkson explains the intricacies of modern coaching, including the juggling act between actual coaching/teaching and man management, and the added complications this year brought by the substitute rule.
Clarkson mentioned how his side dodged a bullet against Port Adelaide last week when it had decided on a last-quarter substitution (a runner for a runner), only for ruckman Brent Renouf to tweak a hamstring, forcing them to make a different substitution only moments before handing the paperwork to the AFL interchange steward.
Deciding when to pull the trigger on the substitute has become all-consuming for AFL coaches, Clarkson noted, and the time and energy required to manage the interchange bench means that coaches have to increasingly leave so much of the rest of the match-day coaching to their ever-growing band of assistants.
Clarkson's substitution decision was made easy for him on Sunday at the MCG when defender Stephen Gilham's knee buckled under him in the opening two minutes of the clash against St Kilda. First-gamer Luke Bruest stepped into the fray and made an impressive debut.
But when ruckman David Hale injured his knee in the second term, Clarkson was left without a second ruckman and he spent the rest of the afternoon furiously rotating his team so that he could find a workable rucking solution, bigger bodies in the midfield to win the clearances and suitable match-ups in his depleted back-half.
The Fox Sports match telecast was most illustrative. Clarkson coached from the boundary and could been seen at regular intervals engaging in the act of coaching - massaging the whiteboard, instructing the players and offering quiet words of encouragement.
It worked a treat for Clarkson. Jarryd Roughead played perhaps his most valuable match of his 132 for the Hawks while Hodge's effort was clearly his best for 2010. Little wonder the usually hard-headed Clarkson appeared so emotional and even close to tears when he spoke after the match.
It could be partly explained by the thrill of an unlikely victory. Then again, perhaps the realisation was starting to sink in that with two of his three best key defenders (Gilham and Ben Stratton) out for the year, Hawthorn's premiership hopes might now be hanging by just a thread.
Achieving wins under such trying circumstances must be enormously satisfying for a coach, as he noted after the game: "If you persevere and just hang in there you can do some amazing things, and that was the great part of today's victory."
As well as Clarkson's Hawks did on Sunday, another side to perform well in the face of sudden adversity was West Coast.
Eagles coach John Worsfold must have looked on in horror as first Andrew Embley (hamstring) and then Daniel Kerr (adductor), went down with injuries during the pre-game warm-up.
You can only imagine all the pre-game planning that takes place, only to count for nought when two of your best midfielders can't make it on to the ground. Andrew Gaff and Brad Sheppard came into the side, while Chris Masten was elevated from sub to starting midfielder.
But as Worsfold noted, the Eagles simply "got on with the business" and drew away for a 33-point win over Fremantle, the club's first over their local rivals in eight attempts. Next up is the mouthwatering clash with the Dogs, then a huge test against Collingwood at the MCG.
Embley and Kerr will surely be needed for those.
A win for sub rule
The loss of Gilham and Hale might well have been curtains for the Hawks in previous seasons, as they would have been left with 20 against St Kilda's 22, but with the now-not-so-contentious sub rule in play the odds were a little closer at 22-21 in St Kilda's favour.
Week by week, as the rule beds itself down, more and more observers understand the reasons behind the innovation, and the little successes made apparent each week.
Former Carlton and Sydney champion Greg Williams added his two bob's worth in the Sunday Herald Sun this week, when he said: "I don't know whether it's good management by the AFL or if it's a fluke, but the games are so much better to watch," he said.
Club by club
Geelong: The Cats of 2011 are increasingly reminding us of the Hawks of 1991. Written off as too old and too slow after a finals fadeout the year before, yet good enough and more importantly proud enough, to reload for one last premiership hurrah. And with a new coach, too.
Collingwood: No harm done. But the value of Darren Jolly to the side has been underlined once again. Cameron Wood offers nothing like the same physical presence in the ruck.
Essendon: Won interstate, which was one of the very public failings of the side under Matthew Knights. They hadn't won at the Gabba for a decade.
Carlton: Face their moment of truth against the Cats in another Friday night blockbuster. The AFL was bullish on Carlton this year, handing the Blues six Friday night matches. This might be the biggest.
Hawthorn: Following the loss of Gilham and Hale, Ryan Schoenmakers and Max Bailey (now with seven VFL games under his belt) have been offered gilt-edged opportunities to cement themselves regular berths in the side for the rest of the season.
Sydney Swans: Sam Reid looks to be every bit as accomplished a league footballer as his older brother Ben at Collingwood.
West Coast: Fifty-one inside 50s to Fremantle's 30 was most instructive. Can really plan an assault on the finals if it beats the Bulldogs on Sunday.
Fremantle: Too much starting to be left to too few at Freo, but they're still a hard side to read, and have a long list of first choices out injured. They need to nail a big scalp in the next few weeks to restore the faith.
Melbourne: Dean Bailey should make his players watch the West Coast and Hawthorn matches for a lesson in how to win under adversity. James Frawley's "we gave up" comments will get a fair bit of airplay this week.
Richmond: Various reports say that Jack Riewoldt had a quiet afternoon despite kicking four goals. Do the maths - four goals a week over 22 weeks would equal 88 goals and a likely second straight Coleman Medal.
Western Bulldogs: Props to Will Minson, who might have heard the jungle drums beating over his long-term future with the Bulldogs. His last three weeks in the ruck have been tremendous and he is playing with far more urgency.
Adelaide: The Crows looked to a Western Australian (Nathan van Berlo) when the time came to replace Simon Goodwin as skipper. The next captain will be from Victoria - Patrick Dangerfield.
North Melbourne: Nice comeback, nice win and a nice cameo from Aaron Edwards. Jonathan Brown stands between them and two straight wins at the Gabba on Saturday night.
Gold Coast: As Guy McKenna continues down his path of determining who will be in his best 22 in the next few years, we offer the names of Tom Lynch and Trent McKenzie as virtual certainties. Guns. Both of them.
St Kilda: It is hard to see the Saints making the finals, although a comparison with Sunday's victor Hawthorn from 2010 offers some hope. Last year, after round eight, the Hawks had eight points from seven games and a percentage of 85.76. The Saints have six points from seven games (one bye) and a percentage of 85.35. Hawthorn made seventh spot with 50 points and a percentage of 110.67. Eighth spot went to Carlton on 44 points and 108.07. So the equation is clear: the Saints must win a minimum of 10 games from 15 remaining.
Port Adelaide: Couldn't fault the endeavour for the most part on Saturday, but fitness seems to be lacking. Port simply isn't running out games.
Brisbane Lions: Jonathan Brown can't come back quickly enough. Bigger fanfare in Brisbane this week than for Black Caviar, we're guessing.
Player of the week
Jimmy Bartel (Geelong): We have sung his praises before, but we're not sure there is a better big-game player in the competition. Loves it when the stakes are high and loves the MCG, too.
Twitterati
"Thanks for everyone's best wishes! Shoulder structurally ok just stiff and sore today. Hopefully it settles down well and good to play!" - Cats skipper Cameron Ling (@Cameron Ling) provides an update on his injured shoulder. Who needs Doc Larkins?
"Interstate wins are always the best! Great time for the boys. And just wanna thanks all the @Essendon_FC supporters tonight. So many there!" David Zaharakis (@DavidZaharakis) on Essendon's drought-breaking win at the Gabba.
"@charliesheen would of been proud today!! Big effort with only 2 on the bench!!! #Winning" - Hawk Josh Gibson (@joshgibson06) on the comeback win over St Kilda.
The one game not to miss next week
Has to be Carlton-Geelong on Friday night at Etihad. The Blues managed a win against the Cats last year and will be fresh and ready after a weekend off. The build-up to the Cats' Collingwood game was huge and now they have to do it again. The midfield match-ups are intriguing and the Blues are fast developing the type of backline that could restrict the Cats.
You can follow Ashley Browne on Twitter at twitter.com/hashbrowne
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
