The Western Bulldogs' win against North Melbourne on this day eight years ago was very much inspired by a pair of mature-age recruits from Frankston.

One was a seasoned veteran by then, playing his 192nd game, and the other was playing just his third match, at the ripe old age of 25. 

Matthew Boyd and Tory Dickson are two fine examples of the rewards that come from hard work and persistence.  Both were overlooked by recruiters in their teenage years, but neither of them allowed these setbacks to end their dream of playing AFL football. 

Heading into their Round 7 match in 2012, the Bulldogs had a 2-4 win-loss record, while the Kangaroos' was 3-3, making this Mother's Day match a vital one for both sides. 

After an early goal to the Dogs' Shaun Higgins, North hit back with two of their own to take the lead. But third-gamer Dickson turned things around with two goals and the Bulldogs went to the quarter-time huddle with a narrow lead. 

With Boyd dominating the midfield and Dickson adding a third goal, the Dogs took control in the second term and were 19 points clear at the long break.  Dickson was not done yet, though, and with a lovely left-foot snap bagged his fourth goal in the first minute of the third quarter to put the Bulldogs 25 points clear.

North tried to bridge the gap, but the Bulldogs held sway as Boyd continued to rack up possessions and drive the Dogs into attack.  By the time the game was over, he had touched the ball no fewer than 44 times, and the Dogs closed out the match to win by 19 points. 

Boyd's possession tally was only one short of his personal record at the time of 45, registered against Fremantle a year earlier.  He would go on to break that record later in 2012, with a 46-disposal match against Geelong. 

For Tory Dickson, this was a break-out game.  He had played in the opening two rounds of the season, but lost his place in the side after failing to kick a goal.  He made the most of his return match and never looked back. 

The two ex-Frankston players would become integral parts of the Bulldogs team that forged its way to a premiership in 2016. Boyd would add another 100 games to his tally before retiring at the end of 2017, while Dickson, now 32 years old and 113 games into his career, continues to work on his forward craft as the Dogs look to build towards another flag.