It had to happen and it did.

If it wasn’t newly-minted premiership coach Paul Groves that did it as he stood on stage to receive his medial, it was going to be Ellie Blackburn, who didn’t know for certain that she would lead the team out until late Thursday night, when close friend Katie Brennan’s appeal to overturn her suspension was dismissed.

Everyone was thinking it and then there it was.

"I can't hold this cup up alone. KB - get up here,” Blackburn said, calling Brennan to the stage to the cheers, and probably tears of the Bulldog faithful. 

And to top it off, Brennan pulled up the polo to reveal she was wearing her Bulldogs guernsey underneath, as did Izzy Huntington, Daria Bannister and every other player who didn’t make it onto the ground on the big day but were just as much a part of the win as those that did.

It capped an extraordinary 12-month turnaround for Groves’ team who were playing to avoid the wooden spoon in the final round of the 2017 season, before taking on all comers in 2018 and having a rollicking good time while they were doing it.

From the heartbreak of losing key players and much-loved teammates to season-ending injuries, to breaking AFLW scoring records and launching the first ever pride game, to Saturday’s victory, Dogs fans have fallen in love with this group, and everything that they’re about.

While at some point Saturday’s celebrations will flicker out, the triumph and this group's place in the Club's history will last forever.