Luke Beveridge says Bulldogs can win their first Grand Final since 1954

WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is confident his side’s fairytale charge will next week end the longest premiership drought in the game.

Luke Beveridge after the game.

WESTERN Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is confident his side’s fairytale charge will next week end the longest premiership drought in the game.

The Bulldogs stand one win from their first flag in 62 years after snapping a run of seven losing preliminary finals against Greater Western Sydney on a night of high drama at Spotless Stadium.

The Dogs, with thousands of their travelling fans drowning out the local Giants support, dominated the inside 50s, clearances and contested ball to sneak home by six points and set up a decider against Sydney.

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Beveridge said his side truly believed.

“The important thing is we feel like we’re going to be thereabouts next week,” Beveridge said.

“We’ve got the biggest game of our lives ahead of us and we’ve got to prepare well.”

Fittingly for a side that has overcome countless injury setbacks, the biggest win of its season came with more hurdles.

Luke Beveridge and Bulldogs president Peter Gordon after the match. Picture: Michael Klein

Jordan Roughead suffered game-ending concussion from a football to the face early in the second quarter and the Dogs fought back from several deficits — the last a 14-point gap early in the last quarter.

In emotional scenes in the Bulldogs rooms, injured captain Robert Murphy cried openly, as did club legend Chris Grant and former president David Smorgon.

“We watched as our players kept picking themselves off the mat, as did GWS, and it was amazing game in the end and what an amazing day for our football club,” Beveridge said.

“For that group of 22 and their teammates who didn’t play to get the club into a Grand Final after so long is just such a big night for our club.

“I’m ecstatic. I may not look it, I’m probably pretty drained actually. But when you think of our fans driving back down the Hume (Highway) and all the support we’ve had and how people would be feeling who haven’t seen the Dogs play in a Grand Final, it would be a big night all around Austalia for our supporters and we feel pretty good about that.”

Joy in the Bulldogs rooms.

Beveridge said his young group would enjoy the occasion instead of being overawed

“They’ll be busy, they’ll have a lot of media, they’ll be a Grand Final parade, they’ll be a lot of exciting things going on and the nature of our players and the way they’re built — such a contemporary new-age sort of a bunch, they’ll just take it in their stride.”

He said Murphy’s support wouldn’t change, despite the inevitable regret the skipper would be feeling.

“He’s such a dignified young man and he’ll just keep supporting the players like he has,” Beveridge said.

“At some point he’s going to reflect and think, ‘I wish I was playing’, but as I said to him the other day, ‘We’re a better team with you in it, so if we win it this year imagine how good we’re going to be next year’.

“He’s got a lot to look forward to and he won’t take anyone’s mind off what’s ahead.”

Originally published as Luke Beveridge says Bulldogs can win their first Grand Final since 1954