Bulldogs gunning to spoil the party
WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge expects the public support will be behind Melbourne’s quest for a drought-breaking fairytale premiership in next week’s grand final.
But the premiership coach has vowed the Bulldogs will be out to crush the red and blue emotion and “spoil the party” for the Demons, who will be chasing their first flag in 57 years in the decider at Perth Stadium.
A former Demon, Beveridge, who played 42 games for Melbourne between 1989-92, said he would “love” the Demons to break their flag drought – just not against the Bulldogs.
He likened the Dees’ mission to the Dogs’ flag-winning campaign in 2016 when they broke their premiership doubt after 62 years.
As such, the Bulldogs coach, who has close friends at Melbourne, predicted the Demons would be the emotional favourites to salute.
“Two of my great mates – Jase Taylor, who I grew up with, we went to school together since we were in prep – Jase is Melbourne’s national recruiting manager and Timmy Lamb, who is their list manager, was my right-hand man and reserves coach when I coached St Bedes, so they are two great mates of mine,” Beveridge said.
“As much as I would love for them to salute at some point, I definitely don’t want them to in two weeks’ time.
“Like us in ’16, the Demons have had to wait for a long time. I probably imagine the emotions and the public support will be behind the Demons to break the drought. I get that, I understand that. But obviously we will be doing our best to spoil the party.”
Proving themselves to be the AFL’S road warriors, the Bulldogs charged into the Grand Final with a stunning 71-point win over Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
It was the Bulldogs’ third victory in as many states this finals series after triumphing against Essendon in Launceston, the Lions in Brisbane before the Power in Adelaide.
Laitham Vandermeer (hamstring) looms as a hard luck story for the Grand Final after Beveridge said he was “doubtful” to front Melbourne after being subbed out against Port.
Goalsneak Cody Weightman (concussion) is expected to return while the two-week break should also allow key defender Alex Keath to recover from hamstring tightness, providing the Bulldogs with a selection headache.
The Bulldogs won their 2016 premiership after finishing seventh on the ladder and this year are aiming for the major prize after sliding to fifth after a late-season slump.
Beveridge said comparison could be drawn to their 2016 campaign “if we win in two weeks”.
“There are some similarities but we were sitting in that top four for a long period in the year,” Beveridge said.
“That’s the main difference with the two journeys. Obviously we won 15 home-andaway (games) in both years.”
“We put ourselves under a hell of a lot of pressure coming into that first final against Essendon and that’s significant as well to be able to weather that storm.