PAWS FOR CONCERN
Dogs’ ‘unnerving’ lead in
BULLDOGS star Tom Liberatore says having an extra week off between the preliminary final and Saturday’s decider has been “unnerving”.
For the first time under the current finals system, both preliminary final-winning sides have been made to wait two weeks to play in the decider.
Melbourne enters the clash having played just one game during a month-long stay in Perth.
The Bulldogs are at the opposite end of the spectrum.
Luke Beveridge’s men finished the regular season outside the top four and have spent time in four states on the road to the grand final.
Liberatore, one of a handful of Bulldogs to have played in the side’s last premiership win, says this year’s play-offs have been unlike those of 2016.
“It’s been heaps different,” he said on Thursday.
“I think it’s been a little bit more unnerving, having an extra week off and being away from all the support back home, but I think it’ll start to ramp up a bit in the coming days.”
The 29-year-old said the time on the road had galvanised the Bulldogs players.
“It’s been a really good atmosphere, the last four weeks since we’ve travelled,” he said.
“That’s certainly helped us bond really well together.”
Liberatore said he expected the meeting of two of the competition’s premier midfield set-ups would result in a tightly fought contest.
“It’ll be great. We’ve had a couple of good battles this year,” he said. “It’ll be a great challenge for both teams and it’ll certainly go down to the wire, I reckon.”
He thanked his loved ones for showing their support from afar. “I’ve had plenty of love, plenty of videos, plenty of wellwishing from family and friends and supporters,” he said.