Daniel flags a dynasty

BULLDOGS cult hero Daniel Southern believes Luke Beveridge’s team can create a premiership dynasty if they win the AFL decider on Saturday night.

Southern, who now lives in Western Australia after spending time in Egypt, will be at Perth Stadium to cheer on his old club against Melbourne in the second-ever grand final outside Victoria.

Southern (pictured) was at the MCG five years ago to watch the Bulldogs end their 62-year premiership drought, calling it one of his most treasured football memories.

He later celebrated in the changerooms with the team and this Saturday he’s scored an invitation to the president’s lunch before the game.

“Luke Beveridge has done an outstanding job and they’ve built a list that’s still so young and talented,” Southern said.

“I was very lucky in 2016, after such a long drought, to enjoy that success in Melbourne. It was wonderful to see lifelong Bulldogs supporters, who had been through thick and thin, rejoicing in the same way.

“You don’t like to talk about dynasties – they’ve got a big game of footy that lays ahead on Saturday – but if they can get up this week, who knows what the next few years will look like?”

Southern’s own finals memories are bittersweet.

He loved playing in them, but the Bulldogs lost every one he was in. That included playing on Geelong’s Billy Brownless the day the big Cat kicked his famous after-the-siren matchwinner in 1994.

Southern said he had heard talk in the lead-up to this week’s grand final that he was a chance to be asked to present his old side with the AFL premiership cup if they won.

With lockdown rules limiting the options, he got a chuckle out of seeing his name thrown in the mix alongside club greats Chris Grant and Matthew Boyd.

The honour went to Grant, who played 341 games and is now the Western Bulldogs’ head of football.