Mark down Sunday, February 13, 2022.  The Western Bulldogs have arrived.

Two women down on the bench, on the road and in the searing heat against the benchmark of the competition, the young pups simply found a way.

The final moments mirrored a rugby scrum rather than a game of footy. Desperate act after desperate act kept the Crows at bay right on the goal line. This was the finish of a titanic battle and in truth one of the all-time great AFLW games.

This fixture had everything. Cruel injuries, wonderful goals, even better ball movement and pure player exhaustion.

The look on the faces of all Bulldogs players and staff was priceless. This was the kind of victory you can build a group around. Resilience, guts and belief; after all it is the Bulldogs way.

Kirsty Lamb is building a career-best season but it is the acts you don’t see that makes her great. The in-and-under taps, brutal hits and gut running from end to end.

Watch the final two minutes of the game, Lamb is underneath every single pack. Never giving up.

Her final act; a game-saving smother to deny Caitlin Gould in the goal square. It’s those small moments that make a difference and more often than not, the superstar number 27 is there to make them.

What shouldn’t be lost in all the hysteria is that this was a superb advertisement for the AFLW. The ball movement was at lightning speed, as both teams took the ball down the middle at any cost.

The Dogs threw the first punch with a four goal to one start. The next two quarters, let’s call it even.

The final stanza pitted a rampaging Crows outfit full of run and carry against a defensive Dogs holding on for dear life.

Erin Phillips put the Crows side on her back and carried them to the finish line, dominating the final term.

Somehow, the Dogs found a way.

Nathan Burke said last week he couldn’t wait to show his players all the pressure acts that make up the team’s DNA after victory over Richmond.

Feels like this weekend’s tape will be shown for years to come.