Wallis has eye on win for 150th milestone

MILESTONE man Mitch Wallis says the Western Bulldogs are treating Sunday’s FNQ clash with Fremantle like a final.

The Western Bulldogs head north on Saturday afternoon with their finals destiny in their own hands, needing to beat the Dockers to play in the post-season.

They could land as high as sixth on the ladder by the end of Round 18 if other results fall their way, but if the Dockers upset the 2016 AFL premiers, they could be on the way for an earlier-than-hoped off-season.

Father-son selection Wallis, speaking ahead of his 150th game, says the contest with the Dockers is a final, before the real post-season starts.

“We still have a job to do; it is a really important week for the footy club,” the prolific medium-sized forward said.

“There is a lot riding on this weekend and we are going to treat it like a final, because it is, it is like an elimination final, really. We are looking forward to the challenge.

“There is a few results that have gone our way, but at the end of the day, we need to win the games we have played in.”

After playing in the middle of the ground and battling long-term injuries, including a badly broken leg, Wallis has become the Bulldogs’ most consistent goal-kicker with 23 from 16 games this season.

The move to go forward was just by luck – he was thrown forward in a practice game and kicked a few goals – and he has been in the attacking 50 since.

The 27-year-old says the Bulldogs enjoy their regular FNQ trips as they have fond memories of winning on the Cazalys Stadium deck.

“I love going to Cairns every year, we have done it for the last four or five years,” he said. “I cannot wait.

“To do it again, and hopefully be successful, because we have won every time we have gone to Cairns, hopefully we can tick that off as well.”