SEEING premiership medallions draped around the necks of senior teammates Matthew Boyd, Dale Morris and Robert Murphy was just as satisfying for Bulldogs young gun Caleb Daniel wearing his own.

The second-year midfielder was a key part of a young core of players who rose to the occasion throughout 2016, and then stepped it up another level on the biggest stage at the MCG on Grand Final day.

We must be dreaming: Bob gets a medal

But Daniel said it meant so much more to deliver the long-awaited premiership to the club when he saw the joy on the faces of Boyd, Morris and injured skipper Murphy – who wore with pride the medal coach Luke Beveridge gifted him.

"I love seeing Matthew Boyd, Dale Morris and Bob Murphy with medals wrapped around their necks," Daniel told AFL.com.au.

10 things we learned from the Grand Final

"I'm pinching myself, but probably not as much as Boydy and Dale Morris who have played the game for so long and really this is for them."

The Bulldogs had five players under the age of 21 in Saturday's historic Grand Final and none of them appeared overawed by the enormity of the occasion.

Match report: Dogs stun Swans to complete 2016 fairytale

Luke Beveridge trusted in his young players all year and first-year Dog Josh Dunkley said it was great to be able to repay the coach's faith in the biggest game of their lives.

Dunkley was hard at the contest; Marcus Bontempelli as poised as ever; Zaine Cordy stepped up in a big moment; Toby McLean put his head over the footy and Daniel used the ball constructively.

Norm Smith: Bulldog JJ springs a medal surprise

Their contributions all amounted to an even team performance; one that will see them forever be a part of the Bulldogs' folklore.

Dunkley said he and his younger teammates could not have settled as well as they did had it not been for the calming influence of Morris and Boyd.

The young forward said he owed a lot to his senior teammates in the way they helped prepare him for his first season of footy.

"It's great for me to have blokes like that pass down their experience," Dunkley said. 

"For me, I've come in in my first year and I've been a part of it and now I can feed off their emotions. It's great to know what they've been through and how special this is."