Former Bulldog coach Terry Wallace has urged the Dogs to pull the selection trigger as the side prepares to tackle Geelong at Simonds Stadium tomorrow night.
The Dogs face a selection conundrum given a host of players, including Mitch Wallis, Jordan Roughead, Bob Murphy, Travis Cloke, Tory Dickson and Dale Morris are available for selection after overcoming various injuries.
Wallace believes recent history suggests making wholesale changes is something the Dogs are equipped to handle.
“I go back to their first final last year and the side made about five or six changes and we all thought that was too many for the side to perform,” he told SEN's Hungry for Sport.
“They ended up beating West Coast in a final so I would say yes, they’ll make those changes and play all those experienced guys.”
After losing to Fremantle in Round 23 the Dogs made five changes to the side that downed the Eagles en route to claiming the premiership. Tom Liberatore, Jack Macrae, Jordan Roughead, Easton Wood and Jake Stringer came into the side at the expense of Fletcher Roberts, Nathan Hrovat, Bailey Williams, Koby Stevens and Will Minson.
Of all the possible inclusions Dickson’s shapes as pivotal. The Dogs have topped 90 points only once in the past month (against Brisbane) and were held to eight goals by a Richmond in last week’s fighting win.
Dickson, who has not played a game this season after struggling to overcome off-season groin surgery, kicked 40 goals last year to finish second in the club’s goalkicking behind Jake Stringer (42 goals).
In the last two years the 29-year-old has kicked 90.29 to rank among the most accurate goalkickers in the AFL.