Footscray have won their second VFL flag in three seasons after a comfortable 31-point win to upstage flag fancy the Casey Scorpions in Sunday's VFL grand final at Etihad Stadium.
While a win in Saturday's AFL grand final against Sydney is be the drought-breaking flag that success-starved Bulldogs fans most want to savour, Sunday's victory – in front of a crowd of 17,348 - was just their second silverware of any type since 1954.
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Plays of the AFL preliminary finals
The Swans start in a hurry and cruise past Geelong while in Sydney the Bulldogs win one of the all time great preliminary finals against GWS to reach their first grand final since 1961.
"Hopefully this is the first of two cups this week," Bulldogs VFL coach Ash Hansen said.
Lin Jong, who was awarded the Norm Goss Medal for the best player on the ground, along with Footscray teammates Koby Stevens and Will Minson, will be hopeful of an AFL recall for Saturday's grand final against Sydney.
"It was good to get the Norm Goss Medal, but the premiership is the key…whatever happens, happens (for next week), the boys are playing really well," Jong said.
Stevens and Jong, on a remarkable return from a broken collarbone just 17 days ago, finished with 29 touches, while Minson was pivotal in the ruck with 32 hit-outs.
"It's been a bit of an odd one winning a premiership and not being able to have a beer, but the big dance is next week and we'll just train hard this week and see what happens," Stevens said.
Skipper Jordan Russell, also captain of the 2014 flag, was solid with 24 touches, while Lukas Webb finished with 22. Nick Jamieson kicked three goals from 18 touches.
![Footscray's Lin Jong in action against Casey Scorpions at Etihad Stadium.](/web/20160926224649im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/o/4/0/3/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gro6f8.png/1474816012142.jpg)
Just as impressive as their match-winning eight-goal third term was the camaraderie in the rooms after the match, typifying the Bulldog spirit that coach Ash Hansen so often refers to.
Couldn't sing it any louder or prouder 🏆 #believemorebulldog pic.twitter.com/jRWEFPwR6S
— Footscray Bulldogs (@FootscrayVFL) September 25, 2016
"It's hard to describe, it's hard to describe that momentum," Hansen said.
"We just have belief…we've just got good people and they just like spending time together and it translates on the performances like today."
The momentum of Saturday night's epic preliminary final win over Greater Western Sydney had a flow-on effect with players, coaches and fans alike flowing into their fortress at Etihad Stadium in droves.
Perhaps their fate is in the stars or their cheer squad, which cleverly wrote on the banner: "Horoscope for today – Scorpio you will lose your grand final".
The atmosphere at the ground wasn't a lot different to the previous night in western Sydney. A vocal pro-Bulldogs crowd saw their side conquer and slay another giant – as underdogs.
Casey had finished as the minor premier, after winning 14 of 18 matches. They – along with Collingwood – were the flag favourites in the second half of the season, and had thrashed the Bulldogs by 70-points in a qualifying final three weeks earlier.
Clinical in midfield, the Dogs defensive pressure allowed them to gain the upper hand in an eight-goal onslaught. Casey was held score-less and could not even get the ball out of the Dogs' stranglehold.
Andrew Tashevski-Beckwith scored a game-changing goal after being awarded a 50 metre penalty for another undisciplined Casey tackle.
Tom Campbell's second goal of the term at the 20-minute mark gave the Scorpions a 27-point buffer. Emerging talent Mitch Hannan kicked another, but when Nick Jamieson kicked two consecutive goals, the Dogs had commanded eight-unanswered goals and a worthy 46-point lead at the final change.
Before then, it was a see-sawing contest. Footscray had plenty of scoring opportunities, but only led by six-points at the first change. Lin Jong's poster on the siren sparked a melee to end a fiery term.
Tim Smith provided the necessary sting for Casey in the second term with two goals - his second a brilliant snap to give his team a one-point lead.
Liam Hulett edged the Scorpions one-goal clear at the main break, before the Dogs' premiership-winning surge.
For Casey, Clayton Oliver finished with 31 disposals as their best, along with Matt Jones (27), Ben Kennedy (24) and Jack Grimes (24).
Scorpions hopes were dealt a blow before the match with speedy midfielder Christian Salem a late withdrawal, after suffering concussion in last week's preliminary final.
- with Hamish Cunningham