Bailey Dale sums up the Western Bulldogs’ barnstorming run into the AFL finals.
Halfway through the season the Bulldogs were languishing with 4-7 record and Dale had rejoined the senior team for two games.
But a mid-year reset worked and they have roared into September by winning seven of their last nine games.
A big part of that surge has been a much more potent attack, with Dale the unlikely leader.
He has kicked 20 goals in his last six games, making the 23-year-old one of the most in-form players among the finalists.
The good times keep rolling for Dale, with the Bulldogs announcing on Thursday that he had signed a three-year deal to the end of 2022.
On Saturday, he will have his first taste of September action when the Bulldogs take on GWS in an elimination final at Giants Stadium.
“I can’t wait to see what the future holds. We’re a young group and we’re playing some good footy at the moment,” Dale said.
“I love the way we play our footy and I want to be a big part of that going forward.”
Dale has been the main beneficiary as the Bulldogs dramatically improved their scoring potency before the finals
They kicked 100-plus points in four of their last five matches – the Bulldogs had done so only twice previously this season.
“Luckily, it’s been me popping up in the last few weeks to pop up and kick a few goals, but Aaron Naughton has had a lot opportunities, Josh Schache, Sam Lloyd, Tory Dickson, Toby McLean – it could be any of us,” he said.
“We’ve probably never really had that in the last few years, to have an even spread up forward.
“We’re making most of the opportunities, which we probably didn’t do at the start of the year – it helps 20.10 rather than 10.20.”
Dale was in his second season at the Bulldogs when they won their historic 2016 premiership and only managed four AFL games that year.
He doubts he will lean on teammates for advice about finals, wanting to see for himself what September is all about.
“Obviously I was around in 2016 and saw what happened, but to experience it for yourself is something different,” he said.
“I’m going in with an open mind and get excited about whatever happens.”
