Dear Bulldogs members,

It’s been a rollercoaster start to the AFL season. After a terrific first four games and an unbeaten start, recent weeks have certainly been challenging but context is important. 

We sit at 4-4 after what was generally acknowledged as an exceptionally difficult early fixture, playing five of the current top-six teams during a period when our injuries have been cruel and clustered. 

Our performances in some of those games were not what we hoped for from this team, but on Friday night we saw more of the spirit and scintillating footy we know we're capable of as we just fell short against a very good Fremantle side.

With two-thirds of the season still to play out, plenty of opportunity remains. 

Sam Darcy has begun his post-surgery rehabilitation and we all wish him well in that process, comforted by the knowledge that he has an outstanding support network around him, and I know he'll do whatever he can to play a role and support his teammates throughout his recovery.

In the meantime, we can eagerly anticipate the impending return of Cody Weightman in a matter of weeks and if all goes as we hope, what a magnificent story that will be.

With several other players a handful of weeks away, we are getting closer to emerging from what's been one of the most difficult injury tolls the Club has faced in recent years.

These periods do present opportunity of course and blooding five AFL debutants so far this season as well as giving less experienced players the chance to take on key roles will no doubt serve us well going forward.

As we look forward to the rest of the season and seven more home games at Marvel Stadium, the role you can play in getting behind our boys is crucial.

We appreciate your support as a member and hope that you can avail of the opportunity to get behind the red, white and blue in person for as many games as possible.

I would also ask you to encourage others to take up a membership and join you in investing in our journey. We need the Bulldog faithful to be as strong as possible to ensure we can push on and reach the heights we all hope for.

In recent weeks it's been wonderful to acknowledge and celebrate our glorious campaigns of 2016 when we claimed both the AFL and VFL premierships. Hard to believe it's been 10 years already!

Our game against Sydney reunited many of the key figures that helped us to overcome the odds and claim a victory none of us will ever forget.

And a few days later those lucky enough to be in the Olympic Room at the MCG heard some very entertaining insights and recollections from some of the key contributors to those flags.

As you'll no doubt recall, the journey to that glorious day at the MCG had more than its fair share of bumps along the road, including a season-ending injury to one of our best players early and more setbacks as the year progressed.

That group of players and its coaching team persevered and kept finding ways to hang in until a finals series that none of us will ever forget.

As a Club we have built resilience and character through difficult times and that will always stand us in good stead as we navigate tough periods.

We have worked hard to build a foundation for sustained success and of course we would all love the path to be smooth and consistent.

For now that is not our lot but thanks to your support we have the structure, resources and stability to deal with whatever is thrown at us.

With our VFL team starting the year strongly, our AFLW pre-season beginning next week and the VFLW season just a few weeks away we remain hopeful of pushes for finals footy across all of our teams.

Thank you for your faith and support of this Club, these are the times when it matters most. Our spirits remain high and we look forward to an exciting remainder of the AFL season.

See you at the footy.

Go Dogs! 

Kylie Watson-Wheeler
Western Bulldogs President