Herald Sun

Not ready to let a season-long spate of injuries consign them to the September scrap heap.

And certainly not ready to allow their Subiaco house of horrors end a campaign that had started with so much promise and could yet deliver in kind.

The first interstate finals win in Dogs history was dripping in grit, skill and bravery. It was a famous victory and the stuff of dreams at what had been a house of horrors for this side.

BEST: Daniel, Dahlhaus, Picken, Hunter, Boyd, Hamling, Dickson, Macrae

- Sam Edmund

The Age

The Western Bulldogs played their elimination final against  West Coast like a team that had nothing to lose – and it paid off in spades.

Their unpredictable and daring game plan, to run the ball through the middle of Domain Stadium and back their usually reliable skills, paid off. The Dogs won through to the second week of the finals, and earned a clash against the loser of the Hawthorn-Geelong final, with a comprehensive 47-point upset win over the Eagles in Perth.

It was the first time the Western Bulldogs have won a final outside of Victoria, having lost their three previous attempts.

BEST: Daniel, Dahlhaus, Hunter, Boyd, Picken, Hamling.

- Brad Elborough

AFL Media

The Western Bulldogs have produced one of the greatest finals wins in the club's history, stunning West Coast by 47 points at Domain Stadium to march into a semi-final.

The Bulldogs had never previously won a final interstate but an extraordinary execution of pressure, team defence and counter-attack saw them end the Eagles' season, winning 14.15 (99) to 7.10 (52).

The Bulldogs thoroughly deserved their victory.

They won the contested possession count by 23 and the clearances by eight to set the tone in the midfield.

- Alex Malcolm