Jake Stringer – AFL premiership player.

The 22-year-old from Bendigo etched his name into Western Bulldogs folklore on Saturday when he helped the Dogs to their first AFL premiership since 1954.

“It was an amazing day… just incredible,’’ Jake Stringer’s father, John, said on Sunday.

“Even before the final siren sounded Bulldogs fans celebrating. Everyone knew a little bit before the siren that we were going to win and the celebrations started.

“People were jumping around, some were crying. It was unbelievable.”

John and the rest of the Stringer family went straight to the rooms to join in the premiership celebrations.

“Jake’s an AFL premiership player and no-one can take that away from him,’’ John said.

“My advice to him was to soak it up and enjoy it as much as he can.

“It’s hard to believe…. to think about where the club was four years ago when Jake first arrived there to where they are now. That was the theme among a lot of the parents last night. We’ve all been on the same ride. The club has done an amazing job.”

Jake Stringer didn’t have a standout game individually, but with the game on the line in the final quarter he stood up for his team.

Stringer produced a brilliant right-foot snap goal from a stoppage to put the Dogs seven points in front and late in the game he unselfishly set up Liam Picken for the match-sealing goal.

“They say to the players internally that they have to have moments,’’ John said.

“Even if you’re not in the game you have to keep working and your moment will come.

“The good thing for Jake is that he’s had games where he hasn’t been involved, but he’s kept working hard and made an impact. It’s a great learning curve for him.

“He’s only 22, so he’s got plenty of improvement to come. Next year Stewie Crameri comes back and it looks like Travis Cloke will be there. All of a sudden Jake has a different role and he doesn’t get the mauling defender or get double-teamed.” 

While John and his wife Donna were elated for Jake, they were also proud of the much-maligned Tom Boyd.

The key forward has copped plenty of criticism since signing a multi-million dollar deal to join the Dogs, but he produced his best game for the club at the perfect time.

“We know Tom’s parents pretty well now and they’ve ridden such a tough journey,’’ John said.

“Tom’s a great kid… it was great to see him play well. He’s going to be a great player for a long time.”

Stringer is the eighth Bendigo Pioneers draftee to win an AFL premiership medal.

He follows in the footsteps of Joel Selwood, Adam Selwood, Rick Ladson, Brent Guerra, Michael Braun, Josh Hunt and Dean Solomon.