Although the Bulldogs fell short of a flag in 2000, the millennium year was still a significant one for the Club.
The Dogs made the finals for a fourth consecutive season for the first time since joining the VFL in 1925, and beat all the sides that made up the top four.
One of those victories was a famous one over Essendon, the Bombers' only loss in 2000, and two of them were over Carlton, who finished the home-and-away rounds in second place. The Dogs also beat North Melbourne in a Round 15 thriller.
Twenty years ago today, it was Melbourne, who would go on to be Essendon's Grand Final opponent in 2000, that fell to the might of the Bulldogs at their best — but not without a fight.
Looking for a fourth win in a row, the Dogs got off to the worst possible start. Melbourne piled on four goals in quick time, and were ahead by 25 points after just 11 minutes. The Bulldogs narrowed the gap to 18 points at the first change of ends but another poor showing in the second term left them 34 points adrift at the long break.
A half-time dressing down from coach Terry Wallace had the desired effect on the Western Bulldogs. Melbourne had dominated clearances prior to the break, but Scott West turned that pattern on its head when play resumed. Within five minutes West won three centre breaks, all three resulting in Bulldogs goals, two of those to Andrew Wills who had spent much of the first half on the 'pine'.
Sparked by West, the entire Bulldogs team lifted, and the complexion of the game changed completely. The Dogs went on to kick six goals to two for the quarter, and were within 10 points of the Demons at the last change.
When play resumed it was clear the dam wall had broken. The Bulldogs were in front halfway through the final term, and then went on with the job, eventually winning by 25 points.
West was the engineer behind the 59-point second-half turnaround, but he had worked just as hard in the first half when his teammates were floundering. He finished with 33 possessions — 16 in the first half and 17 in the second. Four tackles and a goal capped off a match-winning performance, and no one would have been surprised when the words ‘Western Bulldogs, S West, three votes" were read out for this match on Brownlow Medal night.
Brad Johnson picked up two votes for his 25-touch game, while his great mate Rohan Smith kicked five goals plating his 159th game, just as West was.
The Bulldogs went on to beat North Melbourne by four points in Round 15, Carlton (whom they had already beaten by 39 points in Round 4) by three points in Round 19, and Essendon by 11 points in Round 21 to complete a 'grand slam' against 2000's top four teams.
