EASTON Wood is adamant the Western Bulldogs would not be preparing for their first Grand Final in 55 years if not for the influence of injured skipper Bob Murphy.
Wood, 27, described Murphy as the club's "guiding force" and pointed to the role he had played in galvanising the team through a year containing all sorts of trials and tribulations.
"Bob's a pretty special person to this club and very much so to me as well," Wood told AFL.com.au on Monday.
"He is 'us'. He is so much of our guiding force. There's no way we're without him.
"I'm certain I'm not the person I am, or, we're in the position I am without his influence."
Wood will stand in Murphy's place when he leads the Western Bulldogs into battle against the Sydney Swans in Saturday's Grand Final.
The stand-in skipper took over the role after Murphy ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee against Hawthorn in round three, ruling him out for the rest of the 2016 season.
Marcus Bontempelli also deputised in the captaincy role when Wood was injured during the year.
However, Wood doesn't see the handover being as definitive as that.
"He's our captain. And he's been that the entire time," Wood said of Murphy.
Wood said Murphy's ability to motivate and placate was a huge asset for the team to take advantage of, particularly considering the build-up surrounding the biggest game of their lives.
"I've mentioned before that he's got this amazing intuition and ability to get a read on how the group feels," Wood said.
"He's so eloquent in how he's able to deliver his message. His message always resonates it always hits the mark and he never misses.
"He's such a calming influence. With him there, I feel better, I feel calmer. I can't even imagine what the younger boys would feel like."
Wood gathered 19 disposals at 89.5 per cent efficiency to be a key contributor in the Bulldogs' thrilling six-point preliminary final victory over Greater Western Sydney.
He also took eight marks, including one of the game's defining highlights – a magnificent speccy over Lachie Whitfield in the first quarter.
Even Wood did not think he would be able to reel the ball in when it looked like it was going to soar over his head.
"I thought I'd made a terrible mistake. I jumped far too early. You just back your instincts sometimes and sometimes they lead you astray," Wood said.
"I thought it (Wood's instinct) had led me astray then but luckily somehow I got a ride and managed to hold on to it.
"It's not something you think about. It was just one of those moments where it just stuck."
