1. Will the real Bulldogs please stand up?

We’ve seen two versions of the Dogs this season: the hunting, swarming, snarling bunch that rolled the Bombers (and almost the Swans), and the version we’ve seen against the Giants, Eagles and Dockers, where things didn’t go as well. 

Sometimes we’ve seen both in the same game.  What will we see this week?

It’s hard to know, but we did see what this team is capable of in Rounds 3 & 4, and if that’s the kind of footy served up on Friday, it’ll be a good day.  

Incidentally, if the Dogs do get up it’ll be the first time since May 1986 that they’ve won four straight against Carlton, so impress your mates with that stat.

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2. Slicker than your average

While we’re on that day, the final score was 7.8 to 4.12, one of those traditional the Western Oval slugfests, behind 27 touches from Doug Hawkins and Simon Beasley kicked three of the Dogs’ eight goals.

Doesn’t sound like ‘game of the week’ material, or maybe it does.  Depends what you like.

Whatever the case, we can probably expect a different kind of game under the roof at Etihad on Friday night. 

Both sides can play the kind of fast attacking brand of football that suits the slick deck of Etihad, so here’s hoping for a fast, exciting contest befitting the Friday night fixture.

Or we can win a boring arm wrestle, who cares really. As long as it’s our scarves flying proudly out of the car window on the way home.

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3. Forgot about Hayden?

It seems like forever ago that Hayden Crozier was last seen in a Bulldogs guernsey; Round 1 to be exact, when his medial was damaged by a falling GWS Giant, relegating him to the sidelines for the past month.

Now, he’s back for his second official rodeo in Dogs’ colours and the athletic former Docker looks set to sure up the inexperienced backline, where his mix of aerial and ground game will be welcome.

That said, he’s not unfamiliar with a forward role and kicked a career-high three goals against the Blues almost a year ago to the day, so there’s a chance he could shift closer to goal if he’s required.

Either way, he’s a sneaky-good in.

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4. That Friday feeling

There’s no better way to spend a Friday night in the world’s most liveable city than a night at the footy is there?

This is the first Dogs’ Friday night fixture since the final round last year when the footy world farewelled Club legends Bob Murphy and Matthew Boyd, ̶a̶s̶ ̶w̶e̶l̶l̶ ̶a̶s̶ ̶H̶a̶w̶t̶h̶o̶r̶n̶ ̶g̶r̶e̶a̶t̶ ̶L̶u̶k̶e̶ ̶H̶o̶d̶g̶e̶, and we’re finally back on the big stage.

So, grab your scarf, clear your throats, keep some room in your stomach for all the food trucks and let’s get this win.