1961.
The currency of Australia was the pound...Robert Menzies was the Prime Minister.
John F. Kennedy was U-S president.... even the inception of S-B-S was more than a decade away.
That's the last time the Western Bulldogs made a Grand Final.
55 years later- and after nearly ceasing to exist as we know them in the interim- they're back.
And ironically, they've qualified for the A-F-L's big day at the expense of the competition's newest team.
A six-point victory in Sydney, against Greater Western Sydney, made the Bulldogs- hit hard by injuries this season- the first side to make a Grand Final after finishing the home-and-away rounds in seventh place.
After defying the odds again, Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge says his side is aware of history- but they're seeking to create some of their own.
At MCG
Swans have won nine of 14 appearances at MCG, including four of the last five. Bulldogs have won five of their past seven games at the MCG.
In this season
The two teams have met only once this season, the Bulldogs won that game by four-points over Sydney at the SCG in round 15.
And to win only Bulldog's second premiership- their first was even further back, in 1954, they're going to need another extraordinary effort.
They'll face the Sydney Swans in the Grand Final, who've qualified for the big game on the basis of a 37-point win over Geelong- keyed by a seven goals to zero first quarter.
The Swans are in their fifth Grand Final this century- and are looking for their third premiership in that time.
They'll start favourites against the Bulldogs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
