Western Bulldogs President Peter Gordon has lavished praise on Coach Luke Beveridge and injured skipper Bob Murphy for how their leadership has helped turn around the fortunes of the club.
The Bulldogs secured their first Grand Final appearance in 55 years following a pulsating six point win over Greater Western Sydney and on Saturday will seek to win their first Premiership since 1954.
“He (Luke Beveridge) said something very important after the game on the weekend, which was to emphasise the importance of Murph (Bob Murphy) in the whole thing,” Gordon said on SEN Breakfast with Frank and Ox.
“In my own judgement a really critical factor for the Bulldogs over the last two years is those two men and not those two men individually, but what they’ve done together as leaders of our football club.
“He said we would be a better team with Murph in the side and we obviously would, but we’ve been a great team over the past couple of years because of those guys.”
Gordon admits Beveridge has surpassed all expectations placed in front of him since being appointed as coach prior to the 2015 season and describes him as a remarkable guy.
“I think he’s an excellent coach and I take a bit of pride in having said so at the start of the 2015 season and being derided by all in sundry for that call,” he said.
“But truthfully yes, I did not think he would be able to get us into this position in his first two seasons and getting his into the finals in his first season.
“Even standing in the rooms with him after the game on Saturday he’s just a remarkable guy, he’s remarkably grounded and allowing the guys to celebrate the win, but at the same time having an extraordinary focus on what we’ve got to do.”
He says despite the surreal feeling for the supporters in making the Grand Final it is important the club does everything right in the lead up to Saturday’s clash with the Sydney Swans.
“We will obviously enjoy the week and hope all the Bulldogs fans do, but it’s now a sense of making sure we do everything right,” said Gordon.
“That consists of making sure that we don’t ignore anything that’s really important about what’s got to go on this week.
“We need to think of our past players and certainly those who played for us in 1954 and in 1961.”