Eager for the Bulldogs to finish the season strongly, Jarrad Grant wants to gain some momentum from the final games of 2014 to set the tone for a gruelling pre-season ahead.

The Bulldogs turned the tide late in season 2013 with a strong run home and the benefit to the Club’s summer campaign was evident and Grant is hopeful of replicating that.

“Similar to last year, we finished off the year well and we want to do that again this year and there’s two games of AFL footy and guys want to play games,” Grant said.

“The VFL team is playing really well so there is pressure from underneath coming through.

“A finals opportunity doesn’t come around a lot so the guys are making the most of it.”

Footscray currently sit in second place on the ladder with a confirmed finals berth but Grant said he is even more buoyant by the development opportunities with a stand-alone team.

“It’s fantastic having the VFL team this year, obviously last year with the alignment we were only allowed to play 11 AFL listed players in the firsts at Williamstown and the rest had to play in the seconds,” he said.

“This year everyone can play together, we can play to our structures, guys can play in positions that we need to practice and are going to come in and play in the AFL team.

“It’s been a real helping hand this year towards the development of players.”

Last season Grant played eight senior VFL games and a further two at development level before playing the final eight games in the senior Bulldogs side.