After Friday night's thrilling six-point victory over Hawthorn, the Western Bulldogs have jumped up the ladder to sit in fifth spot halfway through Round 13.
Now with three wins on the trot, the Bulldogs appear to have recaptured some of their early-season form. But is it enough to challenge the likes of Geelong, Sydney and Fremantle for the flag?
Speaking on 3AW on Saturday, four-time premiership-winning coach at Collingwood and Brisbane Leigh Matthews said he doesn't think the Dogs are part of the top echelon in 2026.
"I don't think (the Dogs are a top four side)," Matthews said on the 3AW broadcast.
"They are a middle-of-the-list team. They are winning a lot of close games. As I say, there is a lot of random luck in winning close games, and the Bulldogs have won six of their six close games. They have won them all.
"So they are around the middle of the ladder. No, I don't really see them as a premiership threat, top four team, but they'll be around where they are."
However, Matthews did like the Dogs' Round 13 opponents for a run at a flag.
"I like Hawthorn as a team in a sense," he said.
"I think they are more likely to finish in the top four."
While a lot of teams can lay claim that injuries have had a direct result in their season falling off the rails, the Bulldogs lost star key forward and 208cm giant Sam Darcy to an ACL injury early in the year.
The injury had a major impact on how their forward line is shaped and has had a massive overall impact on the club's 2026 hopes.
Midfielder Tom Liberatore's extended absence from the side hasn't helped either.
