The good, the not so good, the exhilarating, the heartbreaking… we’ve taken a look at the Moments That Mattered during the AFL season. 

From now until the full playing group returns for the start of pre-season on November 25, westernbulldogs.com.au will count down 19 moments that had a big impact in 2019.

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It’s hard to imagine the Western Bulldogs not existing. 

But that was the reality of the situation facing Footscray at the end of 1989, as crippling debts saw the VFL to give the club two options – merge, or fold.

Thankfully, people power prevailed in the west.

The Bulldogs were saved.

And this year marked 30 years since that famous ‘Fightback’ of ’89. 

It was an occasion commemorated and celebrated in style.

The Bulldogs – both VFL and AFL – ran out in a specially-themed guernsey at Marvel Stadium against the Melbourne and Casey Demons, harking back to the late 80s.

There was themed merchandise, off-field activations, countdowns, podcasts – you name it, we had it. 

The Bulldog spirit showed through that day. 

In the VFL, the Bulldogs staved off a late Demons’ fightback to hang on to a seven-point win. 

And in the main game, just eight points was the difference.

Losing Toby McLean early in the game to a hamstring, and with Marcus Bontempelli hampered by an ankle knock, the Bulldogs fought on and got the points at a critical point of the season to keep their finals ambitions alive.
 

Counting down the 2019 Moments That Mattered… 

#19 THE MIGHT OF THOR

#18 THE DEBUTANTS