Why King thinks the Dogs are better placed now than they were at the same time in 2016

David King is a huge believer in the Western Bulldogs.

The Dogs finished the 2024 campaign in sixth with a 14-9 record and now face seventh-placed Hawthorn in a huge Elimination Final at the MCG on Friday night.

While others have jumped on the Hawthorn bandwagon as they enter September with 14 wins from their last 18 games, King is instead with the Dogs.

On top of their profile which saw them qualify for finals with the second-best percentage (125.1%) in the competition behind Sydney (126.7%), King thinks that 2016 premiership coach Luke Beveridge has the ability to lead his side on another magical run over a month of footy in September.

“I've been a huge believer in the Dogs,” King said on SEN Whateley.

“Others have probably been on Hawthorn, where I've been the Dogs.

“I haven't been as enamoured with Hawthorn as others ... I thought about their clearance game at the mid-point of the year, which was really strong and there were areas that needed work ... but now it’s all fallen into place for them and they’re playing high-level footy.

“But I just feel like the Dogs have been here most of the year. They can throw in a shocker where you go, ‘Is that really them?’, the Port Adelaide game was one where they were uncompetitive.

“But I'm a big believer in Bevo, and people ask me ‘Why’ and it's hard to explain why.

“But I just think he has this ability to get them on a run for three to four weeks, it has always been evident, and I feel like he's doing that again.”

After the Dogs won the premiership in 2016 from seventh place, King was asked by Gerard Whateley if he feels this version of the side is better placed to start September eight years on.

“They’re better placed (than 2016),” King said.

“Have you seen the forward line that won it for them in 2016?

“They’re better stocked. There are fewer reasons why they couldn't this year than what they were in 2016.”

Friday’s Elimination Final at the MCG begins at 7:40 pm (AEST). The winner of that game will play the loser of Thursday’s Qualifying Final between Port Adelaide and Geelong.