WHY NOT US?
The moment the Bulldogs began to believe
SHANE Biggs credits coach Luke Beveridge and a chance encounter with the 2015 AFL premiership cup late last season as a driving force behind the Western Bulldogs’ first grand final appearance in 55 years.
The Dogs were returning to Melbourne after a 77-point loss to West Coast after Round 21 last year. As the disappointing playing group milled around in the Virgin Lounge at Perth Airport, Beveridge spied the premiership cup and brought the group together for a special moment.
“At first it seemed a bit weird for us as a group because we had just come off a really bad loss,” Biggs said.
“But looking back now it was a really big moment for us. ‘Bevo’ wanted us all to look at it for an ex- tended period of time and get it imprinted on our brains.
“It was sort of saying to the group, ‘Why not us’? Everyone had a good look at it and now a year on we have given ourselves a chance in a grand final.”
Twelve of the Bulldogs’ team today played in that game last year and watched on as Beveridge highlighted what could be in store for them if they worked hard at it.
Midfielder Jack Macrae recalled: “We were flying back in the morning and it (the cup) was just sitting there. He (Beveridge) just pulled us in and said ‘just have a look at it’. It was like, that’s what we are playing for and don’t lose sight of that.”
Caleb Daniel, who had only played eight games at the time, said it was a special moment where the coach had them daring to dream.
“He just said this is pretty much the golden nugget . . . that’s what we all aspire to and hopefully one day looking forward to holding it up,” Daniel said.
“He was saying let’s make sure we do everything we can to get our hands on it. It was just a little subtle message.”
Hawthorn won that 2015 premiership cup but Beveridge’s Bulldogs are now only one win away from claiming the 2016 version.