The best moment of the 2016 Grand Final came after the final siren.
When Luke Beveridge handed his Jock McHale Medal to injured captain Robert Murphy, it was iconic. If you somehow weren’t crying prior to that, it was the exact moment your eyes started watering up.
All the wash-up from the AFL Grand Final
» Match report: Bulldogs are premiers!
» BUCKLAND: The West wins one for all
» Seven talking points from the match
» Western Bulldogs player ratings
» Sydney Swans player ratings
» Our top ten tweets from the day
» Another classic Bulldogs banner
» Re-live all the action with our live blog
It was symbolic of what makes Beveridge, the Coach of the Year winner for two consecutive seasons, so special. His colossal love for his players and humility trumps any of the game plans, as impressive as they are, that he can draw up.
“The fact our group stay calm under enormous pressure, but they play with flair and freedom. Today was amazing,” Beveridge said postgame.
The reason the Bulldogs play with those qualities is Beveridge.
As beautiful and moving as it was to see him give his medal to Murphy, this one belongs to Beveridge. He won’t admit it because it isn’t in his nature, but Luke, it’s ok – you can indulge in this victory.
All premierships are momentous. Some hold something a little bit more special, though, an intangible that can’t be measured. The narrative of the Bulldogs’ flag is the stuff of dreams – breaking a 62-year premiership drought against the most insurmountable of odds. Even beyond that, though, there is something extra about this victory and it stems from Beveridge.
Watching Beveridge cry in media conferences after the devastating news of another one of his soldiers being lost to injury represents an affection that isn’t seen anywhere else. It’s that emotion that makes the Bulldogs everyone’s second team. It shows this is more than a job to Beveridge – it’s what makes his world go ‘round.
Beveridge walked into the worst situation a coach could ask for two years ago. Turmoil in the boardroom, a departed captain, a list seemingly void of A-grade talent and a new, unproven and highly scrutinised million-dollar man in uniform.
It was a rebuild that was meant to take years, probably even a rebuild that would outlast Beveridge’s stint in the main chair. That’s how most rebuilds go, with clubs like Melbourne and Brisbane evidence of that. Inheriting a team that finished 14th the season before with a measly seven wins – patience was a necessity when talking about Beveridge’s job.
However, a stellar finals run in 2015 was just a sneak peak at the magic that unfolded this season, culminating in the most spectacular of grand final victories.
Beveridge is the man of the hour. His uncanny ability to get his boys to believe and play with a special sense of energy, determination, fight, hunger and ferocity speaks of a coach that the players respect beyond the Xs and Os.
It is an attribute that turns Tom Boyd and Zaine Cordy, suspended for a physical altercation mid-season, into premiership heroes. A belief that drives his players to continue to play hard, despite an unfair injury list. A coaching masterstroke that gets the best out of fringe players Liam Picken and Clay Smith, and that elevates the likes of Lachie Hunter and Easton Wood to new levels.
It would have been easy for Beveridge to mail it in and reject the Bulldogs’ offer two years ago. Why would anyone want to take on such a daunting challenge, when greener pastures presented at 17 other clubs?
That isn’t who Beveridge is, though. He is a dreamer, like the thousands of Dogs fans who dared to do such a thing after 1954. And now Beveridge has turned those dreams into reality, one that drowns out the memories of previous heartache.
Enjoy it, Bevo. You deserve it more than most.
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