These Doggies can take big bite of cup
SPECIAL. It’s the only way to describe what is building at the Western Bulldogs right now.
We have a club that is into its sixth decade of a premiership drought that can finally lift a heavy weight off it and its supporters shoulders in Saturday’s Grand Final.
You have the feeling the Bulldogs are at the peak of their powers going into their clash with the Swans, even if they head into the game as outsiders.
Winning a premiership at any time is special, but I believe playing in one that breaks a massive drought is one of the most satisfying things you can achieve as a footballer.
I was lucky enough to play in the Geelong premiership team that ended a 44-year drought in 2007, so I can only imagine the scenes in the Doggies’ rooms after the match if they can rid themselves of that 62-year curse.
There is no doubt coach Luke Beveridge will tell the players to enjoy this week. They’ll sign the autographs, do the open training session and soak up the grand final parade.
But the minute Friday night rolls around Beveridge will have them focused.
He is supported by a great coaching staff with lots of premiership experience.
Joel Corey has worked wonders with the Doggies’ midfield, while Steven King, Rohan Smith and Daniel Giansiracusa have some of the safest pairs of hands in the business.
I sent Marcus Bontempelli a text after they defeated Hawthorn congratulating him on the win and sometimes those young kinds can be a bit cocky. Not “Bont”. He replied: “Thanks mate, it’s easier with the Bearded One (Corey) steering the ship.”
It goes to show the kind of head Bont has on his shoulders, but also the impact Corey is having.
Some of that hard work was done before Beveridge walked through the door and I still think Brendan McCartney should be given some credit.
He cut the list back and got rid of players who were not up to AFL standard — and there were plenty.
“Macca” also helped change the culture and gave them a strong blueprint around contested footy. Beveridge didn’t teach them contested footy and spread and defending the contest in three weeks of pre-season when he first got there. It was something ingrained in the previous years.
What Beveridge has done is get it to blossom and it’s been fantastic to watch.
Speaking to Corey and Kingy, they tell me this is a group that just wants to fight for each other now.
They were brought into the club at the same time and they have formed a special bond that is impossible to replicate by trading players.
They will do anything for each other on the field and in a grand final that is so important.
The biggest thing is going to be Sydney’s first quarter. We saw on Friday night what the Swans can do when they are allowed to play the game on their terms.
They embarrassed the Cats in the opening 10 minutes and the Bulldogs are going to have to deal with that, too.
There is talk about Sydney being this big, contested beast but that’s what the Dogs are as well. Sydney has a few more heads that can rotate through there with grand final and premiership experience.
The Dogs are one of the best contested sides and if they can match Sydney on the inside early then on the outside they can take the game away from the Swans.
And if the Bulldogs do get the win, it’s going to be a premiership we talk about for a long, long time.