While high-profile add-itions Matt Fowler, Sam Cross and Kane Godde have understandably grabbed the spotlight this year, people can quickly forget the likes of Luke Donnan and Todd Miller still roam the attacking half for the Bulldogs.

Miller, in particular, flies under the radar.

He’s booted 133 goals in his 41 games for the Bulldogs since returning to the club at the start of 2012.

That’s an average of more than three each game.

Clearly, he’s far too good to be getting the opposition’s fifth or sixth best defender each week.

But he is at the moment — and he certainly isn’t complaining about it.

“As an overall group, it’s definitely the best forward line I’ve played in,” Miller said.

“It’s been really good.

“Me and ‘Donners’ were talking about it the other day, actually.

“We were used to getting the best couple of defenders but that’s not the case this year.

“Having that many guys up there makes it hard to read for the opposition.

“Everyone is dangerous.”

They are dangerous, all right.

After a shaky start that saw the Bulldogs win just one of their opening four games, Thurgoona hasn’t put a foot wrong.

The club hasn’t lost since.

Miller said the rapid improvement came down to a number of factors, but one in particular.

The Bulldogs have simply been better for longer.

“Early on we had patches where we looked solid but couldn’t string it together for four quarters,” he said.

“Having said that, we’ve definitely got stronger on paper over the past few weeks and are getting close to full-strength, which obviously helps the side string things together.”

Thurgoona is no stranger to performing this well in the regular season.

It’s doing it in finals that the club is yet to achieve.

Thurgoona is out to land its maiden senior premiership in the Tallangatta and District league this year and will get a good look at its credentials when it takes on the side that won it all last season on Saturday.

“Barny are always a good challenge, no matter when you play them,” Miller said.

“It’s a good chance for us to show what we’re made of.

“We want to keep doing all the right things but September is all that really matters.”

On Saturday the Bulldogs will again wear their Braedon Hensel guernsey as a tribute to the talented young sportsman who lost his battle with cancer a fortnight ago.

Thurgoona, which has strong ties with the Hensel family, first wore the guernseys in 2011 when Hensel was diagnosed.

“Braedon’s Bucket”, will again be at the ground to raise money for ONTrac at Peter Mac — an organisation that supports young people with cancer.