THE WESTERN Bulldogs had just scrapped their way to a third win in a row in round 17 and posted their highest score in a month. 

However, that score was only 74 points – and Luke Beveridge's men ranked a lowly 10th in the competition in 'points for' for the season at that stage. 

Josh Dunkley celebrates a goal during the round 17 win over Melbourne. 

The Doggies' dysfunctional forward line was a talking point long before that.

Those struggles were behind Aaron Naughton's switch this season to being the main target in attack as a 19-year-old, after a promising first year down back. 

Part of the problem was the Bulldogs' wayward goalkicking, given in 10 out of 16 matches to that point they had registered more behinds than goals. 

Bailey Dale was a relatively nondescript inclusion a week later, after an extended VFL stint, for what ended up being a disappointing defeat to St Kilda. 

Yet amid that letdown was a silver lining. Dale booted a career-high five goals that day and the Bulldogs kicked 14. 

It was the start of a scoring explosion, not only from the 23-year-old but Luke Beveridge's men in totality.

They've failed to reach at least 113 points just once since, against Brisbane at the Gabba, in a contest they still generated 25 scoring shots in.

The Bulldogs rank No.1 in the AFL for scoring from round 18 at 111 points per game, which climbs to 115 since round 19 – and incredibly they ended the season at No.3 overall (88.2).

Dale, who is out of contract but keen to stay at the club, kicked five more goals at the weekend to give him 20 in six matches compared to only eight behinds.

Three other Bulldogs – Josh Schache (twice), Sam Lloyd, Tory Dickson and Toby McLean – have kicked three majors or better at least once in that period.

Josh Schache has been a potent force up forward for the Bulldogs in the past six weeks. 

Schache and Dickson are two of the other antidotes to the Dogs' previously shoddy radar, going at an elite 23.8 and 24.8 this season, respectively. 

DEAD-EYE DOG Who's the Kennel's most-improved sharpshooter

"I just went back to VFL and really applied myself in my contest and my pressure and I've been lucky enough to just get on the end of a few," Dale told AFL.com.au.

"Our forward line's been functioning really well – Tory Dickson, Sam Lloyd, Josh Schache, 'Naughty'. 

"We've all been kicking goals and (Sunday) was my turn." 

It's far too simplistic and plain wrong to hand Dale all the credit despite the obvious symmetry with his return to the senior side.

"I think we started using the footy a bit better – that was probably killing us – and we had to defend more and our pressure's been really good," he said.

"That makes a big difference in this game and the more times you're attacking, you don't have to defend as much, so you have a lot more energy.

"That was probably our turning point."

What's changed at the Kennel?

So should Dogs fans dare to dream from seventh place again? Dale thinks so.

"It was pretty special (to be at the club in 2016). There was so much belief floating around – very similar to what we have now," he said.

"It's a different group of players, but it's just the same sort of belief and we just don't know what can happen, so we're just going to keep pushing forward and give it our best crack. 

"You always have to believe there's something special on the way."

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