Western Bulldogs defender Easton Wood admits he didn’t expect his AFL team to be in title contention this season.

The Bulldogs are sitting sixth and showed they are ready to make their mark on the finals under first-year coach Luke Beveridge with a ruthless display in Saturday’s win over North Melbourne.

Wood acknowledged he didn’t think they could make the finals in the wake of last season’s 14th placed finish and the departures of coach Brendan McCartney and skipper Ryan Griffen.

“To be brutally honest probably no after everything that happened towards the end of last year when the club was in a bit of turmoil,” Wood said.

“The way it’s turned around has been awesome.”

The Bulldogs last played finals football in 2010.