As it happened: Rampaging Demons clinch 13th premiership, Petracca best on ground, Norm Smith curse broken

Thank you so much for following along tonight and bearing witness to a massive slice of footy history with us.

A big thank-you also to Roy Ward and Daniella Miletic for their amazing contributions to this year’s grand final blog.

As another season comes to an end, I just wanted to also thank you all for following our live AFL blogs throughout the season, and let’s hope next year society returns to normal and the eastern states are able to see their usual share of footy action.

Until then, take care and goodbye.

The Doggies had all the play. Jack Viney went through a contest, Harmes got it, you kicked a goal. The next contest, ‘Tracc’ comes out the middle, what did you do?

Tried to sit on Easton Wood’s head. Thankfully it came over the back and got a goal.

Two contests in the space of 30 seconds, then another three or four goals straight away. You got the crowd up and about, the boys started to relax.

The support here was unbelievable from the Melbourne fans. That really got us going. Played a massive part in the victory I feel.

You’re a premiership player and in the grand final you kicked six goals. You’re the first player since Darren Jarman in 1997 to do that in the big dance.

Yeah. I don’t know what to say. Landed a couple of cheeky ones early. Was lucky enough to find the ball in the second half. Credit to the boys up the field who laced me out.

What about the three finals? They were emphatic. Belted Brisbane. Belted Geelong. Then you’ve belted the Dogs in a granny. You can’t do it any better?

I think once we’ve got some momentum in games, we’ve piled on the goals which has been good in a final. Yeah. It’s great times. I’m pretty speechless.

We spoke throughout the game about the inaccuracy throughout the season. You guys were rated No.18 in the league. That changed. When the pressure got put on, that second half was so good to watch, you guys were calm and composed. It started with you and the two goals.

We have done work with Greg Stafford on our kicking and nailing the process. We knew that would stand up in the big games. That showed in the last three weeks. It is nice.

Big Benny Brown, he is a different unit.

He is bit of a different unit but he is a great teammate to have. He is either marking it or bringing it to ground. When he is clunking them and kicking them through the middle, you’re happy to be playing alongside him.

Very rarely you get to this stage of the year, everyone is relaxed going to a grand final. Every time we saw ‘Goody’ in the last couple of weeks, he had a smile on his face. He set the tone.

He gets the intense out in the morning. He wakes up at 5:30, walks 10,000 steps. Maniac in the morning. In the last two games he has had a funny video. We’re scared, we’re nervous. He’s got a funny video, everyone has a laugh, we relax. That’s helped us.

We haven’t mentioned Neale Daniher and the Stynes family. Got a word for those groups?

We’ve had a lot of tragedy that’s followed the club. Especially since I’ve been there. Troy Broad ridge, Dean Bailey, who drafted me, Colin Sylvia, his parents reached out to me and Neale Daniher who is going through one almighty fight with MND. His poster was up on the wall before the game. He’s got a big quote you can talk as much as you want, it’s about doing. That was my speech before the game, quoted his famous comment. He lives with us. He is still going strong. It is a shame he wasn’t here tonight. The Daniher family, Stynes family, it is very well documented my connection with the Stynes family. They’re special people that make this club special.