Well, the Western Bulldogs got it done! The fairytale finish that the AFL world was begging for has arrived, and let me tell you, I’m pretty in love with football right now. Check out my talking points from the match.
All the wash-up from the AFL Grand Final
» Match report: Bulldogs are premiers!
» BUCKLAND: The West wins one for all
» Our top ten tweets from the day
» Another classic Bulldogs banner
» Re-live all the action with our live blog
Bevo, Bob, and a moment for the ages
In years to come you’ll struggle to find a better moment in footy than seeing Luke Beveridge gift injured skipper Bob Murphy his premiership medal on the podium.
We all wanted the fairytale to come through today but the bittersweet part was that we knew Bob wouldn’t be a part of it. His name might not be on the team sheet, but after this, he’ll always know that whether he suited up or not, he was the heart and soul of this premiership side.
And what about Luke Beveridge? Such a class act. The two most likeable blokes in the AFL shared a special moment and we were lucky enough to see it.
Farewell Dennis, it was not nearly long enough
It’s hard to believe that we’ve heard the last of Dennis Commetti’s silky smooth ear chocolate voice – but what better way could there be to go out than with one last epic grand final?
Watching last night’s grand final marathon it really struck me just what an icon of our sport Commetti has been. He was calling grand finals before I was born! He’s been the voice of the game for a generation.
No one can fill that void. And I don’t envy whoever tries!
Buddy, Hannebery injuries killers for the Swans
Lance Franklin copped an injury in the opening moments of the game, putting to an end the predictions by many that he would tear the game apart against an undersized Bulldogs backline. He still put in a good effort, and his goal in the fourth quarter was a massive moment, but that jarred leg may have been the difference between the Bulldogs and the Swan getting the win.
It’s a similar story for Dan Hannebery who almost looked to have done his ACL late in the game, but amazingly strapped himself back up and came on. It was a truly Herculean effort from a bloke who no one would have belittled if he had called it a game.
Had the Swans gotten up from there, it might have gone down in football folklore – two blokes who played in a winning side with two working legs between them.
Tom Boyd needs a pay raise
Alright, just about everyone has said something dumb about Tom Boyd once or twice over the last couple of years. Heck, what I said was probably the dumbest of the lot.
That ends now. Massive multi-million dollar contract? It’s worth every cent. He could retire tomorrow and it wouldn’t matter. The job is done! He put in a massive performance with three goals and so many big, important marks. And he’s a Western Bulldogs premiership player.
You can’t but a dollar value on that!
JPK is a superstar, win or lose
If there was a man on the field who deserved a premiership today without getting one, it was Josh P Kennedy – the Swans’ midfield dynamo booted three great and crucial goals in the second and third quarters, and was dynamic throughout the match.
Unfortunately for him, it wasn’t to be. He’s tasted premiership glory before so at least he’ll always have that – but gee, that would’ve been a highlights reel for the ages if the Swans had pulled it off.
You only need a moment
At three-quarter time, Jake Stringer looked set to join the likes of Hayden Ballantyne and Leon Davis as grand final flops. He’d had no impact on the game, and had even kicked it out on the full three times!
All it took was one wonderful, brilliant snap goal that kick-started a dominant finish from the Bulldogs, and he went from zero to hero in an instant.
He wasn’t best on ground. Heck, he was close to worst on ground. But as they say – it might not be your day, but it can be your moment. He got his chance and he took it with both hands.
Is this the beginning of a Dognasty?
The Western Bulldogs hadn’t won a premiership in 62 years, but I tell you what, I don’t think they’re going to have to wait until 2078 for the next one.
GWS are on the horizon. Hawthorn, Sydney will be thereabouts next year. But this was the youngest side in the finals race and they pulled it off.
Who is to say they can’t do it again? And again? This little old club, one of the least successful in the league, could dominate the game for years to come.
Roarers, it has been an absolute privilege to bring you coverage of one of the greatest seasons our sport has ever known. Thanks for all your support in season 2016!
Big Dallo
Guest
#freekockbulldogs. End of story
Trev
Guest
88 Bulldogs, has there ever been a team so rested going into a grand final such as the Bullfogs. 14 day break, 8 day break, 8 day break and 7 day break. How can a team have more rest than a team finishing higher on the ladder? Give them 70% of all free kicks paid during the finals campaign and no team would lose with those favours.
Perry Bridge
Guest
and thankfully the pre game entertainment was pretty well spot on - and made to look positively brilliant compared to the lack lustre NRL effort.
Perry Bridge
Guest
If I remember correctly that one with Rampe - he got taken to ground and never made an attempt - he knew he was cooked, I actually commented that at the time. The Swans got 50m penalties too - generally the late contact (Jack mark early and was it the contact on Franklin). Thought Grundy lucky not to concede for a very late spoil on T.Boyd (clearly mark taken, he was very late and smashed it out of his hands).
Bruce
Guest
Yeh, Rohan, Parker and tippet are serial underachievers on the biggest stage. They play good prelims though
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Cheers mate!
Raimond
Roar Guru
no depth the Giants, a one-man band they are
Wayne
Guest
Shame sydney are still being punished for getting buddy 20 free kicks to 8 in that close a game Ludicrous Shame that Sydney will lose Mitchell to Hawthorn and plummet down the ladder Hopefully they can offload Tippett to Gold Coast and get O Meara Sinclair and Naismith much better prospects Hanneberys injury illustrates that should have been a free kick Yes both teams missed out on frees but 20-8 is simply poor officiating And to not get a free in an entire quarter Hopefully Jones will develop a tank and replace Mitchell As for Longmire clearly was lucky in 20 12 Starts to look Ross Lyon like now-can get them there but cant win the big dance So slow to adjust to any pressure And great decision not to father-son Drunkley What a dud move
Maggie
Guest
Buddy was injured and he wasn't moving freely. Very obvious from where I was sitting. Even before I found out what had happened to him I knew there was something wrong, he simply couldn't run in the first half and was still hampered in the second. A real pity, he was in superb form in the previous match and it would have added to the spectacle of the match to see him at his imperious best.
Maggie
Guest
No, he clearly couldn't run in the first half, was somewhat better in the second (probably due to pain-killing treatment) but still couldn't push off strongly on his damaged ankle. It was obvious where we were sitting.
Mike Huber
Roar Pro
I hope you are not tuning up to work this week - enjoy your self !
dylillama
Roar Rookie
Cheers Doggie. Hope you're soaking it all in. I remember 2005, it's a hell of a feeling. Agree on that free. The only other one was that K Jack too high and subsequent 50. But watching the replay, it probably could of gone either way. 50 a little harsh. Completely agree on there being too many passengers - Mills, Hewitt, Papley, Lloyd, McGlynn, Jones... unsighted when it mattered. Compare that with the Doggies - so many contributers right across the ground, so many players playing out of their skins. A true team effort, as it had been right through the finals.
Pumping Dougie
Guest
I didn't know anything about Buddy supposedly being injured until I watched the replay and heard the commentary. Watching the game live, Buddy was moving fine. I thought Hambling was outstanding but Buddy was still good. Probably still in their better players, behind Kennedy, Grundy, Rampe and in front of Heeney and Mitchell. Tippet was poor, as were about 6 others.
mattyb
Guest
#swansaresorelosers
Pumping Doigie
Guest
Well said dillilama and thanks for being gracious in defeat. I agree with all of your comment. No shame for the Swans in the way in which they were beaten - both sides have their all. I think the biggest difference was simply that the Doggies had a few less passengers on the day than the Swans. Kennedy's game was brilliant and I thought he was the stand out player on the ground, so should have been awarded the Norm Smith, despite being on the vanquished side. Grundy was great too. I agree Picken and T.Boyd were our two best. JJ butchered about a third of his possessions, despite being in the clear. He didn't deserve BOG. I agree we had the rub of the green but that it didn't effect the result. The only glaring error for mine that cost a goal was the free to Clay Smith for too high.
Pumping Doigie
Guest
I just can't believe it ...
Internal Fixation
Guest
Everyone loves an underdog story.... But this was "dodgeball" at its finest. The VFL is alive and well. Swans did will to stay close with the crowd and the umpires against them. This sad excuse for a national game will never advance until the GF is rotated.
andrew
Guest
And for the Broadcaster who put all their pre-match into the Bulldogs and zero into the Swans. It's all the same reason why you wouldn't bet on Melbourne in the NRL Grand Final this afternoon. Far more eye balls on the screens if the Sharks win.
andrew
Guest
I think the key moment came in the third term when Rampe (from memory) got pinged for holding the ball and the ump blew the whistle almost instantly compared to the lenient approach through the rest of the game, from the ensuing free, a Swan player gets pinged for a high shot inside 50, which clearly wan't high and the Dogs kick a goal. This was all less than 60 seconds after the Swans had kicked a goal, so swung momentum significantly. At one stage in the third quarter the Bulldogs had recieved 3x 50m frees and the Swans 4 free's in total. I don'tt think the Swans will blame officials but I think the ump's were influenced by the pro-bulldogs crowd and pro-bulldogs hype all through the lead up
Bob
Guest
Free kick counts are irrelevant , they don't have to be even. There were 6 bad decisions by my count and 4 went in favour of swans. On that count swans got the best of umpiring and dodgy video review