In 2016, I had a week to take in the fact we had beaten Greater Western Sydney in a preliminary final for the ages, broken a 55-year grand final drought and were on the verge of winning our second premiership.

Life was good. The Dogs were in a grand final, I had my seat booked in the MCG's Olympic Stand and, for the first time, was about to see my team in the biggest game of the year.

It was a rare opportunity I made sure I savoured as you never know when your side would get the chance again. Could it be the next season, in 10 years' time or another 55?

Fast-forward five years and after a "premiership hangover", a rebuild and two elimination final losses in consecutive seasons my Dogs are back, and it feels just as good as last time.

There are a lot of similarities between 2016 and 2021 but there is also some significant differences.

We finished outside the top four and, backs against the wall, won three straight finals for the second time and again enter the deciding fixture as underdogs.

The nerves are the same, if not worst this time around considering we had to deal with a bye between a preliminary final victory and the biggest game of the year.

Dear AFL and Gil McLachlan, please don't put the bye before the grand final ever again! And I'm sure I'm not the only fan - Bulldogs', Demons' or neutral - thinking waiting this long is horrible.

While the nerves of how things will play out at Optus Stadium on Saturday are the strongest emotion I'm feeling coming in, there is also confidence.

That comes from the fact the Dogs, along with Melbourne, have been one of the best sides in the competition this season.

Also knowing that our gameplan stands up against the best sides, including the Demons, is an encouraging sign.

I've felt that confidence throughout the finals series despite the well publicised slip up the Dogs had in the final stages of the season, which cost us a top-four spot.

The obvious difference this time around compared to 2016 is the venue and where I'll be watching.

Not being able to walk to the MCG on the last Saturday in September and experience the buzz of grand final day due to the pandemic is a bummer but it's the world we currently live in.

Instead I'll be watching from Warrnambool, clad in Bulldogs' merchandise and with my membership scarf blanket draped over my legs, like I have superstitiously done for the past three finals matches this season.

By the end of tomorrow night's match I will definitely be exhausted and either shedding tears of joy or sadness and celebrating a win or drowning my sorrows depending on the final result.

Hopefully it's a victory, with a Norm Smith Medal around the Bont's neck, and next year when the Bulldogs are gunning for back-to-back flags for the first time in our long history, I'll be there to watch it at the 'G.

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