The Western Bulldogs have come a long way since last year’s elimination final exit, and after their 0-2 start to 2020. 

But senior coach Luke Beveridge is fully aware his side will be judged by what it produces on Saturday afternoon, in the finals spotlight against St Kilda.

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Luke Beveridge | 'It's a test to see how far we've come'

Hear from Luke Beveridge in the lead up to the Elimination Final against St Kilda on Saturday afternoon at The Gabba.

The Bulldogs went into last year’s finals series with a head of steam but were stopped in their tracks by a physical GWS Giants outfit.

Another opportunity now awaits against the Saints.

Less than half of the team that won the 2016 premiership will feature for the Bulldogs in this weekend’s final, with Beveridge acknowledging it’s time for the class of 2020 to build its own big-game reputation.

“The intensity, the physicality and the brutality of the game probably goes to new levels,” Beveridge said of finals football.

“There’s a core group of our players who have been able to experience that and meet that challenge in the past, but it does take that greater 22 to be able to complete the puzzle and the challenge.

“There’s a handful of lads who will go in – some playing their first final and others maybe disappointed with how they’ve played in their most recent one – who have that challenge in front of them.

“That’s part of the beauty of the game and the intrigue.”

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Fans deliver their messages for Elimination Final

The Bulldogs Army provide their support for the players ahead of the second elimination final against St Kilda Saints on Saturday at The Gabba.

Beveridge said his side was looking forward to the challenge of taking on an in-form Saints outfit, who had their measure in round two.

The Bulldogs will be out to show they’ve improved significantly since then.

“They beat us quite convincingly in that round two game, so in a sense this week is a test for us to see how far we’ve come since that game,” Beveridge said.

“Being on the big stage and under the spotlight and playing against the Saints who haven’t been there in a while, it’s such a great opportunity for all of us.

“On our journey, the objective is to be the team – or one of the teams – to beat. Here’s a chance to establish that, in a finals series. In a sense, it’s going to according to plan in that we’ve got a sniff and we’ve climbed definitely after round two.

“And now what a great opportunity for us to see if we can really climb through the top eight.”