Footscray are the 2025 VFL premiers.
For the third time in 11 years, the Bulldogs saluted 14.5(89) to 11.13(79) against Southport, leading for the entire game in front of 8818 fans at Ikon Park.
The Dogs have been the most consistent side across the course of 2025, finishing as minor premiers, before beating Frankston by 80 points and Box Hill by 31 en-route to the grand final – riding a 13-game win streak entering the big dance.
A withering six goal burst to open the first quarter propelled Footscray, forcing Southport to play catch up for the rest of the afternoon.
It was team-of-the-year midfielder Cooper Craig Peters who galvanised his side early, with 11 disposals and a goal setting the tone for the Dogs in the clinches.
Craig Peters took out the Norm Goss Medal for best on ground, finishing with 28 disposals and eight tackles in a tenacious midfield performance, putting his body on the line in the wet and finding another level to absorb Southport's second half onslaught.
Former Gold Coast speedster Hewago Oea levelled the scores at the three-minute-mark of the last quarter before two Brodie Crofts goals from stoppage and a Jedd Busslinger set shot stretched the margin to 18 points.
Southport had most of the play for the last 15 minutes, but when Josh Dolan extended the margin beyond three kicks at the 30-minute-mark, there was no coming back.
The Dogs led by as much as 36 points late in the second quarter before a six-goal Sharks third term in the wet led by Jesse Joyce flipped the script and gave the visitors momentum.
Southport also pressed early in the second quarter, kicking four consecutive goals to respond to a damaging start, but as was the pattern of the day – Footscray had an answer.
Oskar Baker kicked a running goal midway through the second term which gave Footscray some ascendancy going into the half.
Baker finished with a modest 14 disposals and seven tackles to go with the major, but was lion hearted all day, with some big defensive efforts and one-on-one wins underlining a critical performance.
The Dogs premiership closes the curtain on veteran Taylor Duryea's career in romantic circumstances, with the flag Duryea's second at VFL level and accompanying his 2014 and 2015 AFL premierships.
Duryea, who has 219 games of AFL experience across Hawthorn and the Dogs, was only able to play as a result of a rare win at the VFL tribunal and finished with an honourable 17 disposals and five tackles.
Duryea's premiership wasn't the only storyline, though.
32-year-old Adam Treloar, yet to win an AFL premiership, now has a VFL medallion and showed his class in a 25-disposal performance.
Captain Daniel Orgill was inspired, never moreso than a run-down tackle on Max Pescud as Southport threatened to get out the back to get the margin to within a point.
Ryan Gardner, who spent much of the day playing on best mate Wylie Buzza from Southport, got one over the big Shark.
Billy Crofts and Craig-Peters both showcased AFL attributes on the biggest stage.
Key forward and 2023 father-son pickup Jordan Croft now has a Bulldogs premiership.
Lifelong Western Bulldogs supporter Zac Walker now has a club premiership to his name.
Footscray last saluted in 2016, when the club won the VFL/AFL double.
