Bulldogs can ride finals wave to AFL flag

Western Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli sees no reason why his side can’t ride their inspired wave of momentum all the way to a drought-breaking AFL premiership.

From the start of their finals campaign Luke Beveridge’s team dared to ask ‘Why not us?’ and duly stormed to the club’s first grand final since 1961.

The Dogs didn’t have many friends after a wretched run with injuries heading into the finals and a deflating round-23 loss to lowly Fremantle in Perth.

But Beveridge’s underdogs defied the odds to win three finals on their way to the premiership decider against Sydney and will hit the MCG with a full head of steam.

“Momentum is a strong thing and it can carry you to new places … that’s certainly been the case for us,” Bontempelli said on Monday.

“There’s been an enormous amount of work that’s gone into each week, but that’s got to be mixed with a bit of momentum.

“That’s certainly been felt by us as a playing group.

“We’ve had that mentality since the start of the finals … we’re just on a journey to experience whatever comes our way really.

“As long as we do that I think that will hold us in pretty good stead.”

Bontempelli looms as a key figure as the Bulldogs try to win their first flag since the club’s only grand final win in 1954.

The sublimely talented midfielder is tailor-made for the biggest AFL stage, given his ability to seize the moment and elevate his game when his side needs it most.

“I don’t know if I love them, but they’re moments in games and they can pop up at any particular time,” he said.

“I don’t know if I’m conditioned to them … but they’re just moments and as long as I’m staying in the game for all moments really then you back yourself to be able to finish in those circumstances when they happen.

“It’s something we’ve been able to do … particularly in close games, we’ve been able to close them out well.”

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