When the game is in the balance, strong teams band together with the knowledge that each individual will play their role and that is the kind of culture Robert Murphy is beginning to see at the kennel.
A number of recent close encounters have tested the young Bulldogs side both mentally and physically but the defender is pleased to see his teammates uniting when the game is in the balance.
“We have a few of those nail biters and I think we will probably have a few more down the track,” Murphy said.
“I think when it got real tight we were able to hang on and play the way we wanted to and it was a good result for everyone.”
The Bulldogs veteran said one consistent in all of the Club’s wins in recent seasons was dependence on every member of the team playing their role – regardless of age or experience.
“When you look at every one of our wins, not just this year but the last couple of years, it’s when we get contribution from everyone young, middle or old,” he said.
“Date of birth doesn’t mean much in those last five minutes.”
The determination of Marcus Bontempelli helped the Bulldogs over the line on Sunday against Melbourne with two fourth quarter goals, including one that earned him a Hungry Jacks Goal of the Year nomination.
Murphy said if the young Bulldogs side become accustomed to closely-contested games early it will only bode well for the future and the win against Melbourne was another step in their development.
“We do play in a lot of those dour games that go down to the wire, so I think we are really comfortable in that situation – or getting more comfortable anyway,” he said.
“It was good to get another experience [on Sunday] for the young guys but more importantly to get over the line in the end was great for everyone.”
The Bulldogs are aware that there is still a ways to go in their journey and Murphy said the Senior Coach Brendan McCartney’s sentiments were still very level after the weekend’s win.
“It’s always really consistent with Macca, he thanked the boys for their efforts,” he said.
“But [he] also noticed some things we need to work on just to make our life a little bit easier out there and maybe skip away with a bigger win than a six point heart stopper every time.”
