Rank outsiders a fortnight ago, the Bulldogs head into the away game against Wangaratta Rovers with a genuine chance after wins over Lavington and Corowa-Rutherglen.

The Bulldogs went into the COVID break with a two-five record and seemingly out of finals contention, but a shock win over the Hawks would almost certainly catapult the club into fifth spot.

First-year captain Ollie Greenhill maintains the club had a strong chat about the season during the break.

"We've been working on the culture, there's no real groups around football, everyone's a big group," he confirmed.

"All the recruits have been unreal, they've made sure they have got to know all the players on an individual basis."

Greenhill has proved vital in the club's recent surge, while Jacob Barber, Oscar Willding and Tom Johnson have also had superb seasons.

Wodonga boasts the league's longest finals drought of 12 years and the club hasn't completed three straight wins since round nine, 2017, under then coach Dean Harding.

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The Bulldogs defeated Yarrawonga, Corowa-Rutherglen and North Albury and while it wasn't quite enough to pilot the club back into finals, if the current players can clock up a hat-trick of wins against the third-placed Hawks, they are likely to be in control of their finals destiny, albeit with a tough draw against three finals teams in the next three weeks.

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