Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge labelled the win over GWS as one of the most significant home and away results across his ten years at the helm.

Not only did the club secure a finals berth, but the 2016 premiership coach eclipsed Ted Whitten’s longstanding record for most games as senior coach in the red, white and blue.

After languishing at 3-5 following the round eight loss to Hawthorn in May, the Bulldogs have recovered to finish with 14 wins and qualify for September for the seventh time under Beveridge. 

“It is one of the more significant wins over the journey,” Beveridge said inside Mars Stadium.

“I think with what was at stake, no one is ever sure how much weight to place on the task at hand. Will that be too much? Will that take over your thought processes? Will we put too much pressure on ourselves? Will it disallow you from playing with freedom? Or the polar opposite, just treat it like another game. 

“We erred to the former. We built it up as a big opportunity, as a game that internalised the inspiration a little bit more. They have been a very good side the Giants over the journey, so when everything is live we didn’t want to rely on a team or two to lose, so it is pretty significant.”

All-Australian ruckman Tim English was expected to miss a second straight game with an ankle injury and not be available until the first week of September – if they progressed – but the West Australian recovered quicker than expected, benefitting from the Sunday slot. 

“I don’t tell lies. I’ve been more honest with selection in more recent times than ever. There was a time when even if there was uncertainty, I just wouldn’t say anything. I have to be careful with you guys and girls because you can be accused of playing games. But rather than go through those stresses I’ve been more up front,” Beveridge said.

“Absolutely hand on heart, we thought he wouldn’t play coming off the ankle. It was a bit more serious than just the rolled ankle. One of the ligaments that he injured meant he could be out for two or three and he hadn’t trained. As the week went on he looked more likely than less likely, but I wasn’t going to ring you. It was a bit of surprise in the end. I thought Tim was really valuable.”

Laitham Vandermeer was substituted out of the game early with hamstring tightness and will undergo scans on Monday to determine the severity, while Adam Treloar played out the game with calf tightness and will need to be monitored between now and the Elimination Final.