Former Western Bulldogs captain Bob Murphy believes Luke Beveridge’s “hypnotic power” is partly responsible for getting the Bulldogs into a Grand Final.
Beveridge has got his side to overcome the odds on multiple fronts and make their first Grand Final since 2016 after defeating Port Adelaide by 71-points on Saturday night.
Murphy says his former coach has the club in a mindset that shuts out all outside noise to keep the players focused.
“When he’s coaching at his best, and I feel like he’s at his absolute best now, he almost has a hypnotic power over the group,” he told SEN’s Bob and Andy.
“He has this ability to create an atmosphere that shuts out the rest, (he makes the players think) it’s us against everyone else, this is what we do, don’t worry about anyone else.”
The Dogs won in a similar fashion to Melbourne a night earlier, who demolished Geelong to stamp their premiership credentials on Friday.
The former captain doesn’t doubt Melbourne’s ability to win the flag, but from the outside believes Beveridge has got the Dogs on a similar journey to that of their premiership year in 2016.
“I think the Demons really believe that it’s theirs, (but) the Dogs are hypnotised, they’re in some other space at the moment,” Murphy said.
“I think finishing fifth, like 2016 when they finished seventh… It’s kind of similar in a way for this team.”
The Dogs and Demons will clash on the 25th of September to decide the 2021 AFL premiership.