Last AFL season, it was a 125-point belting from West Coast that underlined how far the Western Bulldogs had slipped after preliminary final appearances the previous three years.
On Sunday, a dramatically re-shaped Bulldogs outfit, including two AFL debutants and first-time coach Brendan McCartney, will take on the Eagles at Etihad Stadium and attempt to show things are heading upwards again.
From the side that most recently represented the Dogs in a match for premiership points, against Fremantle in last year’s final home and away round, eight changes have been made.
Gone is last year’s leading goalkicker Barry Hall, now retired, ruckman Ben Hudson, now with Brisbane, and young gun midfielder Callan Ward, poached by Greater Western Sydney.
Also missing is injured midfield star Ryan Griffen.
But there are also a few notable inclusions.
Experienced defenders Brian Lake and Ryan Hargrave and Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney should provide a major boost, after injury-hampered seasons in 2011.
The Dogs are hoping Will Minson is ready to make the No.1 ruck spot his own and that Liam Jones and Jordan Roughead can help fill the gap left by Hall.
But most notable is the largely inexperienced nature of the Dogs 22.
Hard-nosed midfielder Clay Smith and 24-year-old recruit Tory Dickson, both picked up in last November’s national draft, were included, both admitting this week round one selection was beyond their expectations.
“Obviously you want to be putting your name up for every game possible, but round one’s the biggest bonus of all. It’s good to know all the hard work’s paid off,” Smith told the club’s website.
“I’m just enjoying the ride at the moment, just enjoying playing footy and especially playing with such elite players that you grow up watching as a kid.”
While Smith is rapt to be playing alongside some of the club’s stars, many of his teammates are only marginally more experienced than him.
Christian Howard, Luke Dahlhaus, Lukas Markovic, Mitch Wallis and Tom Liberatore all made their AFL debuts just last season and none of that quintet have played more than 16 games.
While the Eagles are not vastly more experienced, they are coming off a preliminary final appearance last year and will provide an ideal gauge for McCartney’s new-look Dogs.
The most telling difference between the Eagles outfit that reached the penultimate weekend of last season and Sunday’s side is the long-term absence of injured small forwards Mark LeCras and Mark Nicoski.
Their unavailability gives former Bulldog Josh Hill the chance to make his Eagles debut, as West Coast’s only newcomer.
