Shot at greatness up for grabs in AFL grand final

A 57-year flag drought and the chance at AFL immortality – welcome to the 2021 grand final between Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs in Perth.

The Demons last won the flag in 1964, and they’ll enter tonight’s decider as the sentimental favourites given their decades of pain and suffering.

Melbourne have made the finals just twice since 2006, but they’ve been able to escape from years of mediocrity to be just one step away from winning a 13th VFL/AFL flag.

The Bulldogs broke a 62-year premiership drought in 2016, and nine players from that team now have a chance to add a second flag today.

If they do that, they will etch their names into Bulldogs folklore, given the club’s only other flag was in 1954.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge would be considered an immortal by the club’s fans if he can guide the side to a second premiership within the space of six years.

But talk of greatness has been largely avoided within the Bulldogs camp.

‘‘We don’t talk about that a lot, if at all,’’ Bulldogs head of football and former star Chris Grant said.

‘‘One of the things that Bevo has been really diligent but also really focused on is creating new memories, new history all the way through.

‘‘The reference to 2016 hasn’t been very strong at all. It’s naturally there, but Bevo and the boys haven’t referenced that because they’re on a journey.

‘‘The journey will be 2022, 2023, 2024. So Saturday is a game and an opportunity, but it’s not the end of their journey.’’

It wouldn’t be grand final week without a few hard-luck stories on the team selection front.

Bulldogs duo Ryan Gardner and Laitham Vandermeer were axed to make way for Cody Weightman (concussion) and Alex Keath (hamstring).

Former Demons skipper Nathan Jones was the heartbreak story on the Melbourne front. Unable to break back into the side for the finals, the 302-game veteran returned home to Melbourne to be present for the birth of his twins, and he announced his retirement shortly after.

Jayden Hunt, Jake Melksham, and James Jordon all missed out on a spot in the 22 for the Demons, but one of them could get their chance on the big stage via the medical sub role.

More than 60,000 fans will pack out Optus Stadium for the decider.