OUR VFL GRAND FINAL COVERAGE
Picture gallery: Footscray v Box Hill VFL grand final
VFL grand final: Footscray Bulldogs premiers over Box Hill
Quarter x quarter: A dissection of the grand final
Footscray player reactions to premiership
The Footscray Bulldogs have completed a fairytale return to the VFL by taking out the grand final in their first year back on the field.
The young pups gave the red, white and blue army cause to roar in a nail-biting encounter with defending premiers Box Hill Hawks in front of almost 24,000 people at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Down by 18 points in the last quarter, a weary Footscray could have packed it in and still have been proud.
But the Bulldogs showed the grit, determination and spirit that has been the hallmark of their season. They staged a sensational comeback, kicking the last six goals of the match to storm to a 16.13 (109) to 13.9 (87) win and the club’s first major trophy since 1954.
Club president Peter Gordon credited western suburbs pride and the energy created by a “sea of red, white and blue” Footscray supporters for helping players dig deep.
“I’m really proud of everyone today. The players in that last quarter were just extraordinary,” Gordon said.
“For us Footscray diehards, to hear that chant go up in the last quarter, to see that sea of red, white and blue … that was something really, really special.”
A growing buzz built around the Footscray team throughout the season. Under coach Chris Maple, a side that initially struggled to field enough players emerged as a premiership contender, ultimately winning 15 of their last 16 games.
“To do what we’ve done is pretty special,’’ Maple said. ‘‘Words can’t describe how I’m feeling.’’
Gordon described the wall of sound that greeted Sunday’s turnaround as extraordinary and the jubilation of fans during the presentation as a magical experience.
He vowed the victory would mark a turning point for the Bulldogs, predicting a resurgence over the next decade.
A $1.5 million Whitten Oval upgrade will help the team’s spiritual home remain an important part of the picture.
“We’re the team of the western suburbs of Melbourne,’’ he said.
‘‘We’re going to keep growing, keep fighting, keep getting better and better.
“What you saw today was the future of the Western Bulldogs. The future is really exciting.”
