Luke Beveridge will tell his players to play with the instinct that has got them to the Grand Final

THE Western Bulldogs will be told not to let the enormity of a history-making Grand Final strip them of the instinct that got them there.

THE Western Bulldogs will be told not to let the enormity of a history-making Grand Final strip them of the instinct that got them there.

The Dogs will feature in just their third decider in club history — and first since 1961 — as they seek to end a 62-year flag drought against Sydney on Saturday.

Defender Matthew Suckling is the only player on the Bulldogs’ list to have played in the last game of the year, prompting coach Luke Beveridge to warn his men against over-hyping the occasion.

“Ultimately, every final is more important than home-and-away games, but if you stray from what you know you’re in a bit of strife,” Beveridge said.

“It’s about trying to find a level-head with the freedom you’d like to, but also understanding the significance of the occasion and the opportunity at hand. So we’ll need to do that on balance and the boys will get good direction.

Jason Johannisen plays a key role in providing dash off halfback for the Bulldogs. Picture: Michael Klein

“All the people who have experienced them (Grand Finals) will tell you to enjoy the moment, enjoy the week, make sure you don’t play the game over and over; all that stuff and it’s a bit of a broken record really, but it is the best advice.”

The sense of history has elevated the success-starved Bulldogs to the position of footy’s greatest fairytale, but Beveridge said the club’s tortured finals history wasn’t a topic of conversation among the current generation.

“We didn’t really bring it to the surface. Everyone’s aware of history and we know it’s there,” he said.

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“It is a new group and a new breed of Bulldogs players who are searching for success.”

The Dogs are playing their best football at the perfect time, demolishing West Coast, Hawthorn and pipping Greater Western Sydney after a late-season splutter in which they lost three of their last six games.

“You work at things and you work at things and at some point, if you stay glass half-full enough, you think it’s all going to turn out,” Beveridge said.

Luke Beveridge will tell his players to play with the flair and instinct that has got them to the Grand Final. Picture: Phil Hillyard

“We’ve been searching for things all year. We’re not surprised, but obviously we couldn’t be happier with the transition from some of the performances right before the finals (to now).”

The Bulldogs have won their last two against the Swans — both at the SCG — earlier this season and last year.

“We haven’t played them a lot ... their billing, finishing top of the ladder ... you can imagine the respect we have for them,” Beveridge said.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing West Coast, Hawthorn or GWS, you come up against Sydney and you’ve got to win your fourth (game) against one of the best teams that have ever gone around.

“We’ll go in trying to do what we know best.”