Luke Beveridge has praised the perseverance and positive attitude of the Bulldogs’ playing group, coaches and staff as the Club secured a last-gasp place in the 2022 Toyota AFL Finals Series.
The Dogs will play in their fourth straight Finals campaign - and sixth in eight seasons of Beveridge’s tenure - after a dramatic final day of the 2022 home-and-away season.
Just one point stood between the Bulldogs and Carlton to secure eighth spot on the ladder, with the Blues going down in heart-breaking fashion against Collingwood on Sunday to enable the Dogs’ passage through.
“I think any year you make the finals it’s an achievement, because it’s an even competition,” Beveridge told reporters after the Bulldogs’ Round 23 win over Hawthorn in Launceston.
“Every team comes up against their own obstacles, and you’ve got to be able to hurdle those and march on with some type of momentum.
“We've had setbacks, but we've stayed in it. It is reward for hard work, regardless of where you finish the previous year.
“Once you get to a final series, things open up again. You’re not quite sure who the new contenders are.”
Beveridge is the first to admit that the current campaign hasn’t always gone to plan, but 12 wins and a spot in the September action was reward for the dedication of the group.
“Ultimately we haven't been a team that has been anywhere near the top of the ladder,” he said.
“Regardless of whether we've been frustrated or disappointed, our players and our staff have just kept fronting up with a really positive attitude.
“Sometimes it all seems lost, but we've hung in there. In this game you get what you earn, you don’t necessarily deserve anything.”
The Bulldogs will take on Fremantle in an Elimination Final on Saturday September 3 in Perth.
