AFL: 62-year title drought ends in style

The Western Bulldogs have ended their 62-point AFL premiership drought with a pulsating 22-point grand final win over Sydney.

After five lead changes, the Bulldogs pulled clear in the second half of an epic contest to win 13.11 (89) to 10.7 (67) on Saturday at the MCG.

It is only the Bulldogs' second premiership, following their 1954 win. It is also the first premiership for Luke Beveridge as a senior coach, only two years after joining the Bulldogs when they were in crisis.

Bulldogs players and fans were in tears as the longest current AFL premiership drought finally ended.

They are the also the first team to win the AFL flag from seventh place.

There was high drama in the last quarter as the Swans, who trailed by eight points at the last break, twice reduced the margin to a point.

After a goal to Bulldogs star Jason Johannisen was disallowed on video review at 18 minutes, Tom Boyd kicked a booming goal three minutes later from outside 50m.

That put the Bulldogs 15 points up and, after Sydney's Ben McGlynn missed a set shot, Liam Picken's goal at 26 minutes was the exclamation mark on a historic win.

- AAP