After missing out on facing his former side last year, Hayden Crozier is ready to tackle Fremantle for the first time.
The 25-year-old defender has been one of the Bulldogs’ standout performers in 2019, building on his promising debut season in red, white and blue after six years with the Dockers.
It’s a feeling of excitement as he prepares to tackle his old mob in an important fixture for both sides.
“Last year it was a little bit disappointing that I didn’t get to play against them, I was injured with a knee and that was probably my last week of rehab. I was really trying to get up for that game,” Crozier said.
“I’m really excited, I’m obviously expecting a little bit of banter out there, and it should be good – it’s a massive occasion, Anzac (Round) and Dave Mundy’s 300th, he’s obviously been a champion of the club for a long time, so I can’t wait.”
It also presents an opportunity for the Bulldogs to square their ledger after six games.
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After wins against Sydney and Hawthorn to start the season, the Bulldogs have gone down to Gold Coast, Collingwood and Carlton in consecutive weeks.
Only one game separates the fourth-placed Dockers and the Bulldogs in 14th.
Crozier said the Bulldogs know where they need to improve, and have the belief they can go to Perth and come away with a win.
“I think it’s probably more getting down to basics,” Crozier said.
“The last couple of weeks, basically both sides of the ball – offensively and defensively – we haven’t been where we wanted to be.
“I thought we started the year off really well, there were patches in games we weren’t playing too well, but we really dug in and got over the line.
“It’s just getting back to playing the basics and really backing each other in, supporting each other and hopefully we’ll do alright.
