The spirit, courage and belief that the Western Bulldogs have shown has been tremendous. “We’ve enjoyed it after the game and the next day, and although we’re a young team, we’re really mature”, he said.
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“We had little moments. but they’re hard to win prelims”, he added.
“I think that’s what we’re pretty focused on”.
It was the club’s maiden finals series, and the win over the Swans in week one of the playoffs proved the Giants could match it with the league’s elite.
The Bulldogs fairytale was kept alive when they pipped AFL expansion team the Greater Western Sydney by six points in a pulsating preliminary final packed with drama.
We’re a really mature group and no one is acting like we’ve won anything yet and there is the big one coming up.
The club’s short-term history also tells a tale.
“We’re just so happy for the supporters and all the fan base and seeing some of the players like Libba senior and how sad and happy at the same time they were (Saturday night) that we finally got into a Grand Final was very rewarding”.
While Monday’s send-off, in which the 33-year-old received a rousing reception from the Swans faithful on hand for the open training session, made it seem unlikely he was a chance to play, Richards tweeted otherwise shortly after training.
The Bulldogs side that vanquished GWS Giants in Saturday’s epic preliminary final in Sydney didn’t contain a single player with first-hand AFL grand final knowledge.
While the Dogs will have to deal with nearly all of their players not having experienced the Grand Final stage, Macrae was confident the group could handle the pressure.
But he said they hoped to lean on the experience of former Hawk Matt Suckling, who will be striving to prove his fitness after missing the preliminary final with Achilles soreness.
Focusing on the basics was instrumental for Macrae sealing a famous victory.
“Hopefully we can lean on him for a bit of support, what to handle and not playing the game before in your head and using your energy levels wisely so that’s something to look forward to”.
Juan Mata – Rooney’s replacement in the No. 10 role – Marcus Rashford and Paul Pogba scored in a rampant five-minute spell just before halftime after United had taken the lead through Chris Smalling, the team’s captain in place of the demoted Rooney.
“All year, we’ve been riding this emotional train with the Bulldogs, through the course of the injuries”, Sewell said.
Macrae attributed the team’s stunning finals run to an unwavering “belief in the group”.
“Sometimes when I read you (in the media), I feel I know nothing about football”, Mourinho said.
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A number of experts in the media started to write them off during the season when they lost a number of key players to injury.
