Tara Murray
Western Bulldogs star Jason Johannisen is soaking in the moments leading up this year’s AFL grand final.
With a week off between the preliminary final and the grand final, along with the grand final being in Perth, it’s a very different lead up to 2016 when the Bulldogs ended their premiership drought.
For Johannisen, who won the Norm Smith Medal in 2016, it still doesn’t get much better than this.
He said his number one advice to the players who hadn’t been through a grand final is to soak it all up.
“I think when you start the year off in pre-season, this is the goal and to finally get here it’s pretty surreal, so exciting,” he said.
“There’s a lot of similarities and we’re just drawing on from that past experience and also enjoying this one, because they’re not easy to make and just soaking it all up again.
“It doesn’t feel as rushed as it did in 2016. Pretty much we played a prelim and you were so flat out during the week.
“This time we’re soaking it all in and sort of taking a breath and enjoying the process a bit more. You can just feel the energy around the group and the excitement that is pretty special.”
The Bulldogs have had to win through to the decider with Melbourne the hard way, after a final round loss resulted in the side finishing fifth.
The Dogs easily accounted for Essendon in an elimination final, before winning a thriller against the Brisbane Lions.
In possibly their best performance of the season, the Bulldogs destroyed Port Adelaide in the preliminary final to win through to the grand final.
Johannisen said the side was starting to play some really good football.
“Obviously we didn’t finish the year off we wanted to and probably put ourselves under a bit of pressure,“ he said.
“We just had to draw on all the good things we had done through the year. Finals is a different type of footy, the pressure and the intensity goes up and we just had to understand all the hard work that we put in was for this moment.
“We’ve created such great momentum throughout these finals.”
The back part of the season hasn’t been smooth sailing for Johannisen, who found himself out of the starting 22 and as the medical sub in the Bulldogs first two finals.
He was in the starting 22 for the preliminary final win against Port Adelaide.
He said it was a strange feeling being the substitute.
“You’re so emotionally invested in the game,” he said.
“I had to train after that one [the Essendon match]. I was so drained just sitting there watching the game as I was emotionally invested.
“If someone got injured I had to be ready to jump on and against Brisbane unfortunately Cody [Weightman] got knocked out in the second half.
“I was able to come on and all I wanted to do was make an impact and contribute to the team win which was nice. It was one of the greatest victories I have been a part of.”
With Weightman and defender Alex Keath both set to return from injury, there will be some selection changes for the Bulldogs.
Johannisen said he would be lying if he wasn’t nervous about whether he would keep his spot.
“I definitely feel for the selection committee, there’s going to be a few tough calls,” he said.
“All I can do is put my best foot forward and whatever role I’m playing on the weekend I’m going to try my best for the team.
“What will be, will be.”
If Johannisen does make the team, he will be one of the few players to have friends and family in the crowd.
Johannisen moved to Western Australia when he was eight from South Africa. He said he could have never imagined playing a final in his home state.
“I’ve had to sort some tickets out,” he said.
“I don’t think there will be another grand final in Perth so we have to make the most of the opportunity.
“My family flew over in 20216, but to do it in your home state, you never thought it would happen. It’s going to be extra special. Hopefully we can get it done.”
The playing group will keep its preparation as normal as possible this week ahead of the game. Johannisen said the key was sticking to what they know works.
While the Bulldogs have been based interstate for the last month and the grand final is in Perth, they have been getting a lot of support from back home.
Johannisen said the players had been feeling the support from supporters.
“It sucks, our supporters have done it so tough in Melbourne,” he said.
“It has been unfortunate that we can’t play in front of our fans. We’ve run out every week, just trying to make them proud.
“Over this whole finals series we’ve definitely felt all the love and support. We get messages and video sent in.
“Us playing footy has brought a lot of enjoyment to our fans and we just want to make them proud.
“We’ve got one more to go. Hopefully we can win the premiership for them and they can celebrate.”
