The off-season departures of several key players and an ugly round one win over Kangaroo Flat had plenty of BFNL fans writing the Bulldogs off as a premiership threat in 2017.

However, Saturday’s gritty 11.13 (79) to 9.11 (65) win over a Strathfieldsaye team which defeated Sandhurst in round one, proved the Dogs still have what it takes to challenge for a top three berth.

“If we play that kind of footy every week we’ll be in the hunt, no doubt,’’ Golden Square coach Bernie Haberman said.

“The difference between this week and last week was that everything we said we’d like to do, we did it today. Last week, even though we won, we didn’t play well.

“We were really pleased with our pressure and we executed our plans well.”

The Dogs laid the foundation for the win in the first quarter.

While wayward kicking in front of goal meant they didn’t put the Storm away on the scoreboard, the effort and intensity set the tone for the day.

By half-time the Dogs led by five goals and in the second half they did enough to hold off the fast-finishing Storm.

“Travis Baird and Dylan Johnstone were great up forward with their pressure and I think our younger players followed their lead,’’ Haberman said.

“It makes it much easier when you have 18 players doing it instead of three.

“If we show that sort of effort each week then we’re going to give ourselves chances of winning games.

“That’s all you can ask for as a coach.”

Square skipper Jack Geary was outstanding, kicking three goals and picking up a swag of possessions.

Ruckman Matt Compston gave the Dogs first use of the ball and Brayden Dorrington was rock solid across half back.

Storm coach Darryl Wilson said Square deserved the victory.

“They were too good for us in the contested ball and they play their ground really well,’’ Wilson said.

“I thought we played much better in the second half, but we gave them too much of a start.

“To their credit, they were just too good for us.”

Midfielders Trent Donnan and Caillum Brady were best for the Storm.

“The positive was that we fought hard late and had a good crack at them,’’ Wilson said.

The Storm will regain Kallen Geary and Jamieson Sheahan for next week’s clash with Eaglehawk, but Jayden Donaldson, Brad Rohde, Sam Heavyside and Brad Stringer are likely to remain on the sidelines.

The Bulldogs will play their first match under lights at Wade Street when they host Sandhurst.