2016 Premiership captain Easton Wood considers himself fortunate to be preparing for another Grand Final next weekend.

The 32-year-old defender has overcome several injury setbacks this year, and conquered doubts about whether his body would be able to get to the finish line.

Wood will be a crucial cog in the Dogs’ defence against Melbourne in the Grand Final, for his wise head and versatility.

“It has been quite a, particularly early in the year, really challenging year.  I tore three hamstrings this year and then coming back through the VFL, I ruptured my lateral ligaments in an ankle,” he said.

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Easton Wood | 'It's been quite nice having the longer lead in'

Hear from Easton Wood a week away from the grand final.

“At that point, before I got the scan on the ankle, I thought: ‘If this is a break, I am out for three months and that is probably season over’.

“Going through all these waves of ups and downs, particularly with the third hamstring I did, I am thinking: ‘All right, is this the writing on the wall. Is it just the body saying I might not be up to it anymore?’

“But thankfully, as I have always done, I have gone back and worked with the physios and the fitness staff and just put the work in.  I can’t believe we are playing in another Grand Final.”

After 22 days in quarantine, the Bulldogs’ travelling party was released into the general population of Western Australia this morning.

But that doesn’t mean the Dogs are planning to paint the town red, white and blue, with the biggest game of the year just six days away.

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One week to go

This time next Saturday, it will finally be here.

"Now it's come full circle, we're quite used to the quarantine side of things and with a grand final looming in just over a week, I mean, I don't want to take any chances," Wood said.

"So I'm happily, safely sticking to where I've been.

"I'm sure I'll go out for a walk here and there but jeez, I won't be sightseeing, or going out to any restaurants or anything like that - there'll be plenty of time for that after the big dance.

"I trust the group to be preparing the best way they possibly can for this week and I'm sure the guys will be trying to do everything they can to make sure they're ready for the game on the weekend, whatever that looks like."