LIFTING FANS’ GLOOM
THEY are more than 3000km away in Perth but Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs will be playing for their fans in locked-down Victoria in Saturday’s grand final.
As the Demons look to end their 57-year premiership drought, skipper Max Gawn says the weight of expectation for his club to do so is no more significant than the burden both teams will feel to try to win for supporters back home who are unable to get to Western Australia due to Covid restrictions.
“I think there’s a responsibility for both teams,” Gawn said at Friday’s captains and coaches press conference.
“We were able to get out of Melbourne at a pretty grim time for the city and both teams have been able to come here to sunny Perth and live out our dreams of being able to play in a grand final.
“So we both have a responsibility to go out there and perform at our best and make our members and families and supporters proud that are back in the eastern states doing things tough.
“The drought’s one thing but I’m more realistic about what’s happening in Melbourne now, being in lockdown.”
Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli has backed a call by Perth Mayor Basil Zempilas for the crowd to stand and applaud 20 minutes and 21 seconds – 2021 – into the first quarter to acknowledge those across Australia doing it tough in Victoria and New South Wales.
“The challenge of what everyone is experiencing back home, there’s no doubt at different points along the journey you reflect on … how things are different and those that aren’t experiencing the traditional buildup, particularly for family and friends and those you’d love to have part of the journey,” Bontempelli said.
“So anything that does tip the hat to all the people back home … would be a nice touch because
everyone is thinking of them.” For the second year in a row, there will be a grand final held outside of Melbourne and again it will feature two Victorian sides. Twelve months ago, it was Richmond versus Geelong at the Gabba.
This time, West Australian football fans have come out in numbers across Perth and both clubs can feel the support.
“I would’ve loved to have played this game at the MCG in front of that home crowd but this is the very next best thing – the city has really turned it on,” Gawn said.
The Bulldogs are aiming to win their first flag since 2016 but according to coach Luke Beveridge this year feels different.
He said last time the overriding emotion among the players was surprise.
“It hasn’t been that meteoric type rise, we’ve been a team that’s been consistent all year, so our expectations are a little bit different,” Beveridge said of the club’s 2021 run.
Grand final experience is in the Bulldogs’ favour. No Demons players have won a flag and only one, ex-crow Jake Lever, has lined up in a grand final.
Beveridge said the Demons had been the most consistent team all year, but it was up to the Dogs to lift their game.