Historic and unprecedented, the Footscray Bulldogs have claimed an historic VFA/VFL Premiership three-peat, after storming home to defeat the Box Hill Hawks by 22-points on Sunday.
90 years after Con McCarthy led the Dogs to back-to-back state league flags in 1923 and 1924, Chris Maple’s charges have reigned supreme to secure the premiership in their first year back in the VFL competition as a standalone outfit.
MATCH REPORT: Read the match report recapping Footscray's VFL Grand Final win.
The Bulldogs left the then VFA after winning the flag in 1924, to join the VFL/AFL ranks.
In what can only be described as a fairytale debut year at the helm, Maple reflected post match, overwhelmed at the achievements of a side that didn’t exist 12 months ago.
“When we started it last year, we honestly thought we might not even be able to put a side together at one stage,” Maple said.
“To do [think] what we’ve done is pretty special. Words can’t describe how I’m feeling.
After sitting tenth on the VFL ladder at two wins and three losses, Maple’s men went on a rampage, winning 15 of their last 16 games of the season, ending in Sunday’s premiership win.
For Maple, who also leads the Western Bulldogs Development Program, the flag bodes well for the talented young list at the Kennel.
“I think it shows we’re going in the right direction. We play the Bulldogs way and it stands up obviously in finals footy.
“The AFL coaches have done a good job training a lot of the boys who played today and our VFL top-up players were fantastic as well.”
Trailing by 18 points early in the final term, the grit of the playing group, led by Brett Goodes and Lin Jong in the midfield, wrestled back control to kick the last six goals of the game.
PHOTO GALLERY: View all the photos from the match and post match celebrations from Footscray's flag win.
“The boys ran the game out really well. We knew they (Box Hill) had one or two hurt,” Maple said.
“Gee they were fantastic in the last quarter.”
Maple was also full of praise for the vocal Footscray crowd that packed into Etihad Stadium, and finished the 2014 journey with the players.
The crowd of 23,816 was an attendance record for the VFL Grand Final at the venue.
“The Doggies supporters have come out in their droves and to have footy back at Whitten Oval — we’re all excited about that,” he said.
“I think the community has backed us and obviously there’s not a heap of silverware in the cupboard, so we want to change that in the future. Their support has been outstanding.”
