David Smorgon, Bulldogs president for 17 years, says the Dogs' premiership for the ages vindicated the club as a modern day template and should prove a lesson and example for the AFL and the league broadly.
Speaking to Fairfax Media after the drought-breaking occasion, the man who filled the chair's role in between Peter Gordon's two stints said his beloved club's triumph had been distinguished by an attitude of rare and healthy openness.
"They've celebrated every moment, no politically correct statements, while also making it clear they're focusing on next week," Smorgon said.
"It wasn't that long ago, I remember Grant Thomas at St Kilda after they won the night premiership said: 'guys, you're not allowed to smile, be serious, it's only a hick competition'. Bevo (coach Luke Beveridge) has been the complete opposite," Smorgon said.
"It has been fantastic. It has been inspiring.There has been a sense of wellness, a sense of belief that comes through loud and clear.
"The good guys win. This is a good guys story. We've defied the odds, we've overcome a lot of hurdles and we've succeeded."
Recalling many dark periods when the club was on its knees, Smorgon confessed there were times when he felt the AFL, as the competition's governing body, was not helping.
"This win symbolises that the AFL has to recognise that fans love the clubs. They might love the game but they love the clubs more, and we have fought many battles with the AFL over a long period of time," he said.
"I'm going back to the late 1980s where they tried to merge us with Fitzroy, and then even in the late '90s and early 2000s there had to be a major argument and discussion so they could free up funds to help the so-called smaller clubs.
"But they (the AFL) weren't giving us oxygen They weren't giving us enough space to breathe. They weren't allowing us to grow the brand and we went along on many occasions to the commission and to AFL executives and said: 'look at the map of Melbourne. It is growing out west, you cannot let soccer, you cannot let rugby come into that, we have got a platform there but we are hampered by our financial uncompetitiveness. By our financial inability to fund these programs.
"And finally, finally, to the AFL's credit they came up with a special assistance package that led to an equalisation plan that led to a competitive balance plan and we're the beneficiaries of that, and so is the AFL and all the other clubs too."
Asked whether he felt a sense of vindication through Saturday's result, Smorgon said: "Absolutely. I feel vindicated from all those people that for years were criticising us, abusing us, for changing the name.
"I'm not going to mention names now, it's all water under the bridge, but people couldn't understand, we changed the name because Footscray was becoming a very different little suburb and Footscray had changed from where the club was based. So we kept the heritage of the club but we had to change the name.
"Today there are young girls and boys wearing our colours. They're the future. We had to identify them with our footy club ... I think the AFL would be looking at this very closely and saying: 'wow, haven't the Bulldogs got a model?'"
Smorgon said engaging with community – more, he claimed, that other AFL clubs - had proved the backbone of the rebuild and eventual glory: "We've been involved with our community for more than 40 years. I think undoubtedly more than other clubs."
Asked exactly what the AFL itself, and the wider league, could learn though what the Dogs have achieved however, Smorgon bit his tongue.
"I don't need to tell the AFL what they should learn. I'm sure they've got enough people who will be looking at this saying: 'what have the Bulldogs done that other clubs could replicate?'.
"I'm sure other clubs will be looking at the Bulldogs saying: 'what have they done that we haven't been able to do?'. Whether you are the Kangaroos, St Kilda, Melbourne, Richmond, Carlton, Essendon, Collingwood even, they're going to be looking at this."
Smorgon spent grand final eve at a gathering convened by the current club president with guests including skipper Bob Murphy who was unfit to play in the landmark win but was awarded coach Luke Beveridge's premiership medallion. As well as lauding the leadership of Beveridge and Murphy he credited Simon Darymple and Jason McCartney as unsung heroes.
"They're the ones that have had the responsibility of identifying the talent to come and play for this club. They've done an amazing job. Almost a thankless job behind the scenes, but just look at the depth of our talent today on our list, it's remarkable," he said.
"Secondly, Bevo has got what I describe as 'the magic sauce'. He's a very special coach. He's a very special individual, and he's brought to this club a whole new attitude that has taken us to another level frankly.
"And let's not forget the assistant coaches, the support staff, the medical team, the statisticians, nutritionists, the membership staff, everyone. Everyone shares in the pride."
