The Western Bulldogs won a premiership by backing their own game, writes Patrick Dangerfield

THE Western Bulldogs have won a premiership by backing their own game. Other clubs need to learn from that, writes PATRICK DANGERFIELD.

Tom Boyd celebrates after kicking a crucial goal for the Bulldogs. Picture: Getty Images

THE Western Bulldogs have taught the rest of the competition a valuable lesson.

There is a lot of follow-the-leader in the AFL and particularly in recent times during Hawthorn’s dominance.

Over the past four years teams have wanted to be like Hawthorn, play like Hawthorn because of they had the formula for success.

The Western Bulldogs finished seventh so what it should say to clubs is back in your own game style.

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You don’t need to copy others or emulate a style.

Everyone has their own unique style and it’s about executing it for longer and if you’e able to do that it will hold up in the big games.

The Western Bulldogs personify it, their season personified that and they did it in the most important game.

Luke Dahlhaus celebrates with fans after winning the Grand Final. Picture: David Caird

They didn’t try to be the next Hawthorn, they figured out a style that worked and perfected it.

What they do better than anyone else is pressure the ball and that manic pressure actually wears the opposition down.

Sydney has been one of the most accurate teams for the year in terms of goalkicking, but the Dogs’ pressure changed that and it meant the Swans were in unfamiliar territory.

They started missing a few shots they normally would convert, which creates scoreboard pressure which they hadn’t had to deal with over the past couple of week.

During the week I spoke about the footy gods and how I believed in them ... this result was just more acknowledgement of their existence

The Bulldogs were clever in the second half with the use of Marcus Bontempelli as the third-man up in ruck contests to try to limit the Swans’ inside ball.

If you take away their weaponry — which is Josh Kennedy, Luke Parker, Dan Hannebery, Kieren Jack and Tom Mitchell at the coal face — and get the ball outside then you’re a chance to hurt them.

The Dogs’ spread on the outside has been one of their strengths and that’s what won them the game in the end.

Jake Stringer, Luke Dahlhaus and Tom Liberatore hold the premiership cup. Picture: AAP.

There were many heroes, but how can you not feel happy for Tom Boyd.

He’s copped flak all year and don’t underestimate how hard it would have been last week to perform against his old side.

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He did that and then stood up in the GF. He was quite simply wonderful and should have had four goals.

During the week I spoke about the footy gods and how I believed in them ... this result was just more acknowledgment of their existence.

Hopefully next year they smile on another team in hoops, this time blue and white.