Footscray’s momentum and club environment is the reason for the team’s second premiership win in three years, according to coach Ash Hansen, as James Szabo reports.
The Bulldogs won the 2016 Peter Jackson VFL Legendairy Grand Final on Sunday, after upsetting minor premiers Casey by 31 points.
The successful VFL season, as well as a historic campaign from the club’s AFL side, has transformed into a frenzy of excitement for Doggies fans this finals series.
Hansen said that positive vibe, along with the club culture, was a key factor to the VFL side’s success.
“That momentum … It’s hard to describe it – We just have belief,” said Hansen.
“The boys enjoy playing footy together. When you create an environment where they (the players) enjoy coming into work … (they) put in the time and effort, and when it comes time to the crunch, they’ll play for one another.
“We’ve just got good people at the footy club and they enjoy spending time together, and it translates into performances like today.
“I just want(ed) to continue on the momentum that the club’s got and how exciting it is to be a Bulldogs supporter.”
Footscray came into the game as underdogs after finishing the season in fourth place and losing to Casey just two weeks earlier by a whopping 70 points, having defeated Scorpions in Round 15 by a point.
“We went into this game with the mentality that it was one on one. We’ve won one, they’ve won one, so it was equal,” said Hansen.
“There were obviously circumstances around that game (the Qualifying Final) where we knew we didn’t play well.
“We were truly below in some key indicators that we know you have to play well in to beat Casey, because they’ve been fantastic all year.
“We had to be at our best today and in the second half, especially the third quarter, we did that and the boys earned it.”
Footscray trailed Casey at half time by six points, before piling on eight unanswered goals in the third quarter.
Hansen praised his side for their attitude in the second half, after failing to convert their chances in the first. He said the defence stepped up in the third term, as well as the team’s pressure around the football in midfield - which allowed for some better delivery inside in the 50.
Lin Jong’s 29 possessions, four tackles, six inside 50s and nine marks earned him the Norm Goss Medal, as the best player on ground.
Hansen said, after suffering a broken collarbone two weeks earlier, Jong’s performance was “remarkable.”
“Just a really special performance from a special player,” said Hansen.
“We saw in Perth how much the football club and playing in a finals series means in Lin, and for him to perform how he did today is a testament to himself.”
The Dogs coach was also quick to highlight his captain Jordan Russell’s influence to the side, along with a number of other key individuals.
“Jordan Russell is just an outstanding human being,” said Hansen.
“He’s led the way, he’s been a rock.
“His ability to lead on field and just compose our young brigade because we were awfully young down back today. So for him to marshal the troops was a testament to him.
“Jed Adcock and Will Minson – their attitude, for guys who have played so much AFL footy throughout the course of the year, is just a testament to their personality and how they’ve carried themselves.
“I’m so glad they get to achieve the status of being premiership players because they deserve it.”
Hansen also lauded the contributions from the VFL-listed players, including Nick Jamieson, Anthony Barry, Jordan Staley and Lachie Dalgleish, who had all played a significant part in the premiership-winning season.
The Western Bulldogs, like their VFL side Footscray, will go into this week’s AFL Grand Final as underdogs against Sydney.
The fans will be hoping the impressive efforts from the VFL team on the weekend will inspire the AFL side to bring home the club’s second premiership cup for the year.
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Last Modified on 28/09/2016 11:51
