After the emotion and relief of 1989's Fightback campaign, 1990 was a watershed year for the Dogs.
With new president Peter Gordon on board, new coach Terry Wheeler guided the Bulldogs to a 'winning' season, with 12 victories from 22 home and away games.
That wasn't enough to take the Dogs to the finals, but for fans who wondered if they would even have a team in 1990, it was a great success.
For most of those fans, the highlight of the year was the Bulldogs' heart-stopping win over Collingwood at the MCG in July, with Steve Kolyniuk the hero after he marked a pass from Leon Cameron and ran around Magpie Graham Wright to kick a beautiful running goal, giving Footscray a three-point win in a thriller.
But 11 weeks earlier, on this day 30 years ago, the Footscray Bulldogs won an even closer contest, in their only other match of the season at the MCG. And Steve Kolyniuk again played a pivotal role in the win.
Taking on North Melbourne, the Dogs got away to a flyer and, with 17-year-old Chris Grant on fire in just his seventh AFL game, booted seven goals to one to lead by 38 points at quarter time. Grant kicked four of those seven goals.
Over the next three quarters, though, the Kangaroos gradually clawed their way back into the match. They had cut the margin back to an even four goals by the long break, and made up further ground to trail by just 11 points at the last change of ends.
The final quarter was a no-holds-barred slog. Only two goals were scored, and they were both kicked by North Melbourne. But the Bulldogs, even though they had been unable to find the big sticks to land a knock-out blow, added five behinds, and that was enough to see them hold on and win by two points.
Steve Kolyniuk, still just 19 years of age, and known to his teammates as Billy the Kid, was one of the Bulldogs' match-winners, gathering 23 possessions and kicking two goals.
Tony Liberatore (23 disposals and six tackles), Simon Atkins (26 touches), Steve Wallis (25 possessions a and a goal) and Peter Foster (24 disposals and eight marks) were also key contributors.
The win epitomised the spirit of the reborn Bulldogs in 1990 and, although the win against eventual premiers Collingwood in July is the moment most remember, the thrilling win over North Melbourne on this day 30 years ago was just as important to the Bulldogs in their 'comeback' season.
