Season 1988 marked the first year the Grand Final would be played at the brand-new Sydney Football Stadium, but it also introduced the coaching calibre of former Bulldog, Phil Gould.
In his first year at the helm, Gould spearheaded the Bulldogs to the Club's sixth title at just 29 years of age.
His first tough decision came after a Round 2 loss to Illawarra by handing forward Peter Tunks the captaincy from two-time Premiership-winning skipper Steve Mortimer.
The move had a swift effect, with the side stringing together three wins in a row.
1988 Grand Final Highlights: Bulldogs vs Tigers
In his final season, Mortimer - arguably the Club's greatest-ever halfback - was impacted by illness and injury, with his role transforming into a 'super-sub' from the interchange bench.
Despite the perceived 'demotion', he more often than not proved to be a match-winner in the back end of crucial matches.
Finishing the season on 32 points and in second position, the Bulldogs were thriving as Gould took out the Dally M Coach of the Year award.
The side took down previous year's Grand Finalists 19-18, before disposing of Cronulla 26-8 in the Major Semi Final.
Extended Highlights: Bulldogs vs Eels - Round 12, 1988
Unlike recent, close-knit Grand Finals, the 1988 edition was against the fairytale Balmain side, who had clawed their way to the decider after winning a play-off for fifth place.
The great irony was that Balmain's head coach was Warren Ryan - the man who delivered Canterbury-Bankstown their most recent two titles.
Before the players ran out, Gould gave one last, simple piece of advice for his players:
Let's be patient, let's outlast their discipline.
After leading 8-6 at the break, the Bulldogs found a chink in the armour of their opponents in the 50th minute, with big David Gillespie touching down, before Terry Lamb iced the match with fifteen remaining on the clock.
In the highest-scoring Grand Final of the 1980s, Canterbury sailed home 24-12 to claim the Club's fourth Premiership in nine years.
It was a triumph in particular for Lamb's halves partner Michael Hagan, who had recovered in time for the last three matches after a car accident in the off-season sidelined him for much of the year.
1988 Grand Final Clive Churchill Medallist: Paul Dunn
Front rower Paul Dunn claimed the Clive Churchill Medal as man of the match, while Mortimer called time on his illustrious career, claiming his fourth Premiership as a Bulldog.
