There’s a touch of 2016 magic in the Western Bulldogs’ club rooms, says Jason Johannisen after his team’s 104-point thumping of Essendon.
The Bulldogs famously rode a wave of late-season momentum to win the 2016 grand final despite finishing seventh on the ladder – the lowest-ever for an eventual premier.
And Johannisen said there was an element of deja vu now.
“There’s a lot of similarities with this team … we’ve sort of got our backs against the wall right now,” the 26-year-old dasher told RSN927 AM.
“We need to win the last two games and as a group we’re excited about the challenge and looking forward to it.”
Following the 6.4 percentage boost the Bulldogs received from their rout of the Bombers, Luke Beveridge’s men are currently 10th and remain in striking distance of a first finals berth since 2016.
But Johannisen said the Bulldogs, who take on GWS at Giants Stadium on Sunday, had found some special form at the weekend.
“I don’t think our ball movement has been that crisp since I’ve been at the Dogs,” he said of the Essendon game.
“You don’t expect to kick 21 goals in a row.”