May 10 sound like just another date, but for Doggies fans over the past 23 years, it's been one characterised by inspiring wins.

Since rebranding from Footscray in 1997, the Western Bulldogs have taken to the field four times on May 10, and they've won every time.

And each of those wins have come on the back of withering bursts in the second half.

May 10, 1997

The Club's first season as the Western Bulldogs had started reasonably well, and they had a 4-2 record going into their Round 7 match against Hawthorn at Princes Park.  A win over the Hawks would propel the Dogs into the top four, but a loss could see them slip out of the eight.

Things began badly for the Bulldogs. Hawthorn got away to a flyer and led by 25 points at quarter time. The Dogs bounced back to take a narrow lead into the long break, and scores were locked together at 79 apiece heading into the final quarter.

A cliff-hanger looked to be on the cards but the Western Bulldogs blew that idea — and Hawthorn — out of the water with a brilliant final-quarter burst that left the Hawks in their wake. The Dogs booted eight goals to one to run out 45-point winners.

Chris Grant was outstanding, and his 29-possession, two-goal game earned him three Brownlow votes (sadly, Grant's game had an unfortunate sequel, which saw him suspended for an incident not deemed reportable by the umpires). Tony Liberatore also had 29 touches, while Scott West had 27 and Brad Johnson 25. Matthew Croft was a tower of strength in defence 

The win, which came in Terry Wallace's first full season as coach, set the Club on a path to a sustained period of success, during which they would compete in four consecutive finals series.

May 10, 1998

Exactly a year after their breakout win over the Hawks, the Bulldogs did it again, this time against North Melbourne. The Kangaroos were a powerhouse of the late '90s and this match promised to be a thriller, and for three quarters, it was just that.

First-quarter accuracy helped North take a nine-point lead into quarter time. The Dogs hit back to lead by 11 at the half but the Roos edged ahead in the third quarter, leading by six points at the last change of ends.

But as they had done 12 months to the day earlier, the Bulldogs unleashed another eight-goal tsunami. North Melbourne could only reply with two, and the Dogs ran away to win by 28 points.

Chris Grant, Scott West and Matthew Croft reprised their fine performance of a year before, Grant kicking four goals, West collecting three Brownlow votes for his 28-possesion game, and Matthew Croft's work on North's match-winner Wayne Carey earning the defender one vote, the same as he had received in 1997. José Romero also played a fine game, picking up 36 touches.

May 10, 2009

Thirteen years were to pass before the Dogs played another match on May 10, but not much had changed. As they had done in 1997 and 1998, the Bulldogs found themselves behind at quarter time, this time against Adelaide at Football Park. By half time the Dogs had clawed back the deficit and led by a point at the long break.

Changing the script slightly, the Bulldogs this time launched an eight-goal barrage in the third quarter, rather than in the final term has they had in the '90s. The Dogs were 45 points ahead by three-quarter time and won by 32 points, easing down in the last quarter.

Midfield trio Nathan Eagleton (29 possessions and two goals), Adam Cooney (29 touches and a goal) and Daniel Cross (28 disposals) were the driving force behind the win, while Bob Murphy played forward to chip in with four goals.

The win lifted the Bulldogs into the top four, and they were again on their way to another Preliminary Final berth.

May 10, 2014

Fast forward another five years, and the Dogs did it again, this time reverting to a last-quarter burst to seal victory against Melbourne

The Bulldogs were coming off narrow losses against Adelaide and Essendon, and when they went to the three-quarter time huddle trailing the Demons by five points, an unwanted hat-trick looked on the cards.

But early final-quarter goals to the Toms - Williams and Liberatore - gave the Dogs the lead. Melbourne fought back to kick two of the next three, but the Bulldogs put the foot to the pedal in time-on, booting three majors in a row, two to Stewart Crameri, giving him four for the match, and one to Jason Tutt, his second for the term.

That final burst turned a one-point deficit heading into time on, into an impressive 16-point win. Two goals and 27 disposals for Liberatore were rewarded with three Brownlow votes, and Crameri received two for his match-winning four goals.

The Western Bulldogs were not scheduled to play on May 10 this year, but the next time they do, history will be on their side!