This season marks 20 years since the Bulldogs managed to put a team in all five grand finals they could possibly make - games which would result in wins for their first, third and fourth grade sides and runner-up results for seconds and colts.

Two decades later Bulldogs have the chance to make it happen again, thanks to all five grades (now firsts, seconds, thirds, colts and women’s) currently running inside the top five of their respective competitions.

One man who has fond memories of the 1996 season is Damien Grant, who coached the first grade side to grand final success.

Grant said he’d love to see history repeat for both this year’s first grade outfit and the other teams.

“There’s no reason why they can’t do it. I think they [first grade] are proud knowing that they’ve got what it takes to beat Orange City, and from all reports they could have got up against Forbes as well,” he said.

“All grades are situated really well at the moment to make it [into grand finals]. It would be great if they were able to do it again.”

Reflecting on his role with the champion first grade side 20 years ago, Grant said he was simply lucky to find himself in control of an exceptionally talented squad.

“I’d been given a great platform to work off when I took the job. I just had a great group of blokes to work with and some strong players in key positions,” he said.

“There’s a photo of me after the grand final with my son, who probably wouldn’t have even been one yet, and now he’ll be playing this weekend in second grade.

“It doesn’t feel like 20 years ago. Time goes very quickly.

“1996 was a very good year for us. Back then The Land gave out an award for the best rugby club in country NSW and we won that prize as well.”

Saturday’s round of matches against the Dubbo Kangaroos will be a chance for Bulldogs members both old and young to celebrate the Bathurst club’s proud history.

Bulldogs vice-president and first grade co-coach Brian Roberson said the Kangaroos have become a popular choice for the Memorial Day clash.

“We always try and pick a big game for Memorial Day. We’ve chosen Dubbo on a number of occasions for Memorial Day because we have a really strong relationship with the club,” he said.

“Memorial Day has been going on since the late 90s and it’s great for us to reflect on our history, whether it be players, families or anyone part of the Bulldogs family.”

Once again Memorial Day is an opportunity for the club to raise money for Carenne School.

The Bulldogs first grade side will be wearing a one-off playing strip for the match, which will be auctioned off after the game, with proceeds going towards the school.

“We’ve made $110,000 for the school over the past 15 years and we’re hoping to raise a substantial amount onto that over the weekend,” Roberson said.

The first grade match also sees the two teams battle for the Ken Laird Cup, named after the life member of both the Bulldogs and Kangaroos clubs.