Easton Wood has given the Western Bulldogs a lift ahead of their crunch AFL match with Gold Coast, committing to the club until the end of the 2020 season.
Wood, who captained the Bulldogs to their unlikely premiership win last season, has agreed to a two-year contract extension to stay at Whitten Oval.
![Easton Wood will be at the Bulldogs until the end of 2020.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170721032151im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/f/b/f/t/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gxfb3u.png/1500534060706.jpg)
Bulldogs list manager Jason McCartney said Wood was an essential part of the club's furniture.
"On the field, he's [sic]Â athleticism and intercept marking abilities are elite and he rarely gets beaten in a one-on-one contest," he said.
"I can't speak highly enough of Easton as a player and as an individual."
Wood is the highest profile of 10 re-signed Bulldogs this season, coming a week after Norm Smith medallist Jason Johannisen's agreement to a five-year deal.
Coach Luke Beveridge will hope it lifts his team, who languish outside the top eight.
The Bulldogs are yet to win this season outside Melbourne but young gun Caleb Daniel says Saturday's game in Cairns presents the perfect chance to do so.
"We haven't won interstate but we're trying to rectify that this week and come out all guns blazing," he said.
The Bulldogs have won each of their meetings with the Suns at Cazaly's Stadium over the past three years by an average of five goals.
Travis Cloke wasn't sighted on Thursday at Melbourne airport, meaning the Bulldogs could be short of tall forwards for the clash.
Jake Stringer is out and Jack Redpath is unlikely to play.
Daniel said it wouldn't hurt the side's confidence.
"It's always pretty sticky and humid up there. The ball tends to be on the ground a little bit, which suits our smaller forwards," he said.
"I think we'll go alright."
– AAPÂ