Mitch Wallis and Bob Murphy made a secret premiership pact to stay strong during last year’s finals series

MITCH Wallis opens up on the bond between himself and injured teammates Bob Murphy and Jack Redpath as they watch the Bulldogs’ fairytale premiership.

MITCH Wallis has revealed he and captain Bob Murphy made a secret premiership pact to stay strong as they watched on during last year’s famous finals series.

Wallis’s stunning return from a broken leg continues at the SCG in Thursday night’s Grand Final rematch against Sydney and the midfielder said he couldn’t wait to again play alongside close mate Tom Liberatore.

Tom Boyd’s back injury last night gifted Travis Cloke a reprieve, while Matthew Boyd, Fletcher Roberts and Toby McLean replaced Murphy (hamstring), Dale Morris (ankle) and Bailey Williams.

Liberatore must play a third game in the VFL.

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In an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun, Wallis detailed how meticulous dedication to his rehab helped him return to the AFL just 300 days after breaking both bones in his lower leg — pulling the boots on three months ahead of schedule.

Wallis, Murphy and their partners Emily and Justine discussed the personal anguish over dinner dates last September, but shielded it from their teammates.

“All through (the finals) you’re toying with the emotions of being disappointed by not being there,” Wallis said.

Mitch Wallis and Robert Murphy missed last year’s finals series. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

“But I was lucky enough to have Bobby Murphy to lean on, and even Jack Redpath to a point.

“I’d check in with those two every now and then and make sure we’d get things off our chest.

“Bobby and I made a pact that we’d be positive and encouraging, because we’re not going to be any value if we’re sulking.

“We made a real purpose that we weren’t going to mope around the club. We had the mindset of, ‘How can we best prepare the boys to make sure they get the best out of themselves on the weekend’.”

The support was returned when Murphy and Easton Wood gathered the Bulldogs around the Alter-G treadmill in January when Wallis attempted to run for the first time in five months.

“They clapped me as I took my first steps,” Wallis said.

“That tugs at the heartstrings very much so, and I was proud of that moment because I’d reached a massive milestone in my recovery.”

Wallis, 24, and Liberatore played their school and TAC Cup football together and were both drafted to the Dogs in 2010 under the father-son rule.

In a twist, Wallis’s comeback was complete when he replaced the out-of-form Liberatore in Round 9.

“I was looking forward to coming back and playing with him,” Wallis said.

“So to see him get dropped was a little bit disappointing. I didn’t really talk about it too much with him because we’re all going through different issues at different points in time.

Robert Murphy trains with Mitch Wallis in 2015. Picture: Colleen Petch

“I sort of had to focus on myself. Libba’s a great man, he’s a great trainer and he’s got great work ethic so I’m sure he’ll be back and I look forward to the time we get to play together again.”

Wallis, due to celebrate his 100th game in Round 16, starred in three VFL games before returning to the AFL in career-best form, polling coach’s votes in his first two games.

“I don’t think it’s luck,” Wallis said.

“I can confidently say I didn’t leave any stone unturned in terms of the rehab process and getting enough training under my belt.”