Dunkley's deja vu as Lions trace Dogs' 16 AFL template

Dunkley's Bulldogs, seventh at the end of the home-and-away season eight years ago, remain the only AFL side to win the flag under the current finals format.

Last year's beaten grand finalists, fifth after the regular season, are striving to join them ahead of a semi-final against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday.

"We've talked about believing, and that's what we did in 2016," Dunkley, the only current Lions player with a title, told AAP.

"We didn't really have a great end to '16, similar to this year."

The Bulldogs were a top-four side for most of 2016 and sat third with six rounds to go, finishing 3-3 and losing their last game of the regular season to slide to seventh.

While the Lions started poorly this campaign, they won nine straight to also be a top-two threat late in the home-and-away season.

They went 1-2 and wound up fifth.

"Those last few games, we slipped up a couple of times. But we had the same sort of story in 16," Dunkley said.

"Back then we got together as a group and talked about that belief and how our game's in really good shape, and similar themes are happening this year for us.

"But you can't look too far ahead. All you can do is dare to dream."

Bulldogs players enjoying the spoils after their 2016 grand final success over Sydney. (Julian Smith/AAP PHOTOS)

The Bulldogs were outsiders in every finals game they played, winning in Perth, beating three-time defending champions Hawthorn, then upsetting the red-hot GWS to make the decider and humble Sydney.

The Lions took care of Carlton to survive their first-week test but now must win three consecutive away games - Geelong await Saturday's winner in an MCG preliminary final - to claim the club's first premiership since 2003.

"It means more when you do it the hard way," Dunkley said.

"That's the mentality now, like, we believe our best footy is capable to beat anyone in the competition, and that's as easy as it is.

"We've got so much talent, but talent only goes so far.

"Good teams win finals; that's what we've seen in the past.

"So we've talked a lot about that as well; being a really good side that plays together and plays as a team.

"If we do that, then it'll go a long way."

BULLDOGS' RUN TO 2016 FLAG:

* Round 18 - Lost to St Kilda by 15 points

* Round 19 - Lost to Geelong by 15 

* Round 20 - Beat North Melbourne by 14

* Round 21 - Beat Collingwood by 3

* Round 22 - Beat Essendon by 40

* Round 23 - Lost to Fremantle by 20

* Elimination final - Beat West Coast by 47

* Semi-final - Beat Hawthorn by 23

* Preliminary final - Beat GWS by 6

* Grand final - Beat Sydney by 22