‘This is mad’: Inside Bulldogs ‘wild’ finals revival as Max King discusses 2024 transformation

There’s something special brewing in Belmore.

This time last year, the Bulldogs were languishing near the bottom of the ladder as the worst defensive team in the competition. There were questions over the ability of Cameron Ciraldo and fans were starting to accept there may never be a path back to success.

Now, the Bulldogs are pushing for a top four finish, are a genuine premiership contender, there’s calls for Ciraldo to be named Coach of the Year and there’s no better place to be in Sydney at the moment than Burwood Road.

Every year there’s a fairytale story of the season — and in 2024 it’s these gritty Bulldogs.

Fresh off a win over the Warriors in New Zealand, Max King joined the Fox League Podcast to unpack the “wild” trajectory the Dogs are on, why Ciraldo will be “one of the club’s biggest signings ever” and of course, this renowned defensive system that’s transformed the team.

King returned from a wrist injury in Round 25, which was the Dogs’ fifth-straight win — a streak the club hasn’t seen since 2015.

“The boys have been going so well… if I left it a couple more weeks (on the sideline) I’d be back playing New South Wales Cup or Ron Massey Cup,” King laughed.

That win also locked in the Bulldogs’ first finals series since 2016.

“Every day I wake up and think ‘man, this is mad’,” King said when asked if that has sunk in yet.

“There’s just things going on… we’ve got so many commitments but it’s so cool because it’s for the finals.

“The last couple of years, the Warriors last season and before that it was the Cowboys… I’ve always looked and thought ‘I’d love for that to happen here’.”

And finally it has.

 

‘IT’S BEEN SUCH A WILD JOURNEY’

 

If you asked a Bulldogs fan in Round 1 where the team will finish this season, most probably would’ve said around 10th.