The Bulldogs run of injuries this season has been well documented, but according to skipper Easton Wood, the group had two options when faced with the mounting toll – fight or flight.
Speaking to the media at Victoria University Whitten Oval on Saturday morning, Wood said the group had been steeled by the challenge of pushing on while teammates were falling around them.
“Every year you’re faced with challenges and it’s whether or not you meet them head on or you let them be excuses, and I don’t think we’ve used them as excuses at all, Wood said.
“In a funny way the boys going down and the injuries we’ve had have probably helped us steel a little bit and really rise to that challenge.
“And now it seems like no matter what gets thrown at us it doesn’t matter, we’ll just deal with it.”
The Bulldogs won through to their first Preliminary Final since 2010 on Friday night, running out 23-point winners against a dogged Hawthorn side aiming for an historic fourth straight premiership.
Wood’s side will now get their own shot at premiership glory if they can get past the Greater Western Sydney Giants on Saturday night in Sydney.
With injury comes opportunity and the next man-up story has been just as big a part of the Bulldogs 2016 run as the injuries themselves.
Not only have the Dogs’ younger brigade played, they’ve had an impact.
From Marcus Adams early in the season, to Josh Dunkley and Toby McLean on Friday night the Dogs’ depth has passed the test.
“To see guys at 19-years-old, 20, 21, to be able to stand up and have huge moments in games and to show composure in different stages when the heat’s really on in front of a massive crowd.
“[It’s] great for us and great for those boys to be able to stand up and deliver.”