WESTERN Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade will implore his players to get over the heartbreak of their near-miss against Geelong at Etihad Stadium on Friday night as quickly as possible.
No one was more shattered than inspirational captain Brad Johnson, who missed with a shot at goal after the siren that would've given the Bulldogs a miraculous victory over the all-conquering Cats.
The champion No. 6 cursed his wretched luck after watching his banana kick from about 20metres on a tight angle slide across the front of the far goal post in an unbelievably dramatic conclusion to what had been a pulsating, see-sawing game that had the bumper crowd of 44,620 perched on the edge of their seats.
The Bulldogs were literally centimetres away from glory.
As hard as it'll be, 'Johnno' and his teammates must forget it. Now. The Bulldogs need to steel themselves for a similar herculean effort against the high-flying Sydney Swans at Manuka Oval in Canberra this Saturday.
The stakes are high with both among six sides locked in an absorbing race for third and fourth spots on the ladder with five wins and four losses.
The Bulldogs will need to be on their mettle in the midfield after the likes of Brett Kirk, Jarrad McVeigh and Adam Goodes helped power the Swans to a convincing win over Port Adelaide at the SCG on Sunday.
Eade and his players will take heart from beating Sydney at the SCG and then Manuka Oval last year.
Electrifying midfielder and 2008 Brownlow Medal winner Adam Cooney shapes as potential matchwinner. He endured highs and lows against the Swans last year. Cooney was unstoppable on his way to kicking five goals in a best-on-the-ground display in the win at the SCG.
Eade will be hoping Ryan Hargrave recovers from a troublesome thigh injury to stand shoulder to shoulder with experienced forward Michael O'Loughlin.
Long-kicking half-back flanker Lindsay Gilbee plays his 150th game.
The Bulldogs impressed greatly with their fighting qualities against Geelong.
They appeared in big strife after the Cats stormed to a 37-point lead at the eight-minute mark of the third quarter.
But the likes of veteran forward Jason Akermanis, playing his 300th AFL game, refused to give in.
'Aker' slotted successive goals in the dying minutes of the quarter as the Bulldogs charged back into the game.
The Bulldogs added 6.4 to 3.2 in the last quarter as the titantic struggle came down to Johnson's now infamous kick after the siren.
Scoreboard: Western Bulldogs 3.2 8.3 11.8 17.12 (114) lt Geelong 6.4 9.10 14.12 17.14 (116). Best: Johnson, Akermanis, Hudson, Eagleton, Boyd, Williams, Cross, Griffen. Goals: Johnson, Akermanis 4, Giansiracusa, Griffen 2, Eagleton, Cooney, Hill, Minson, Picken.
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