<p>Welcome to The Huddle’s AFL Finals previews!</p> <p>After the tightest and craziest season ever, we are finally down to the final eight teams that will battle it out for this year’s premiership.</p> <p>As we gear up for all the September action, it’s time to look at and preview all the teams that have qualified for the AFL Finals in 2024.</p> <p>After missing out last year, the Bulldogs have returned to the finals fray. While they face a tough first up matchup in what could be the game of the finals, should they get through, they can make a run for it.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Western Bulldogs’ Road to the AFL Finals.</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It was trending to be another season that was getting fumbled from within.</p> <p>Getting cute at selection early in the year and non-selection of premiership and All-Australian players raised eyebrows as the heat started to again rise on coach Luke Beveridge.</p> <p>Early wins were followed by a mixed bag of results saw the Dogs slide out of the top eight as they were slowly starting to work it all out. They navigated an injury roadblock as they started to build momentum and worked themselves back into the top eight after a trio of strong wins over Carlton, Geelong, and Sydney.</p> <p>Despite being one of the form sides, their place wasn’t secured in finals until the final round where they sealed their return to September with a big win in Ballarat.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Players to Watch</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Marcus Bontempelli</h3> <p>There’s not many that can stop The Bont.</p> <p>The Bulldogs skipper, and competition great would dearly love to add another premiership medallion to his collection of accolades.</p> <p>Bontempelli’s season has been one of his best ever. He’s ranked first for total score involvements and kicked a career-high 31 goals this season to boot. He ranks fifth in clearances per game and sixth in inside 50s per game, constantly adding elements as he leads the Bulldogs through another big finals campaign.</p> <p>Superstars like him only get bigger and better in September. It will be a treat to watch.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Ed Richards</h3> <p>His move into the midfield full time has been heralded as one of the positional moves of the year from Luke Beveridge. Moving Richards from half-back to the middle has helped change the fortunes of the Dogs' season and added some spark and zip to its already stacked midfield.</p> <p>One of the most improved players in the competition, would have beaten out his skipper for best on ground honours in their must win round 24 clash with the Giants. He looms as another headache for opposition already facing the stern task of working out how to clamp the Dogs’ deep on-ball brigade.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Cody Weightman</h3> <p>One of the most dynamic players in competition and one of the biggest weapons in the Dogs lineup.</p> <p>He’s shown his toughness this year, playing through pain as he’s managed an elbow/ forearm injury throughout the year. It hasn’t affected his style of play at all, still flying for his marks, buzzing around at ground level, and sniffing out a goal at every possible chance he gets.</p> <p>The bigger the stage, the more he thrives. This will be his first final at the home of football in Melbourne. What better place to pull out all the tricks.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Why the Western Bulldogs can win the AFL Grand Final</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>It’s a real shame the Dogs are playing the Hawks in a first up Elimination Final. Both teams are two of the most in-form sides in the competition heading into finals.</p> <p>There’s a level of magic that surrounds the Dogs when it comes to finals in the last decade. They’ve either bombed out week one or gone on a magical ride all the way to the last day.</p> <p>This year will be the first time they are playing a final in Victoria since the big day in 2016.</p> <p>If Bont starts to cook and Naughton and Darcy have their sticky mits and kicking boots, The Dogs might have their days again.</p> <p>Prediction: Whoever comes out of the Dogs/Hawks Elim Final can make the Grand Final. Someone’s going to be stiff to lose that one.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>How Many Premierships does the Western Bulldogs Have?&nbsp;</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Two. Most recent AFL Premiership - 2016.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Western Bulldogs AFL Premiership Odds</h2>