The moment on Saturday when Luke Beveridge called Bob Murphy to the dais and draped his own premiership medallion around the injured captain's neck is one which will forever live in football folklore.

But I hope at some stage in the next few days someone discreetly makes sure another medal is struck and the Western Bulldogs' second premiership coach in 92 seasons does end up with a lasting personal memento of a famous victory.

Because as beautiful and selfless a gesture as Beveridge made, and as much as the entire football world loves Murphy to death, I'm not sure in this case anyone actually does deserve a medal more than the coach.

Make no mistake. This was one of the great coaching performances. In fact, I believe there's a fair argument that it may have been the single greatest coaching performance of all time.

Before the sceptics start throwing around names like McHale, Smith, Barassi, Hafey, Jeans, Sheedy, Matthews and Clarkson, we're not suggesting that Beveridge is a name yet worthy of being rattled off among that company.

But who among them has had this profound an impact on a club so early in their coaching career?

It's still a week short of two years since the Western Bulldogs as an entire club, let alone football team, appeared on their knees, their captain Ryan Griffen walking out to join Greater Western Sydney and their coach Brendan McCartney effectively sacked.

Beveridge wasn't even appointed until November 14, 2014, picking up the reins of a side in disarray, a pre-season already in full swing and along with Griffen, bedrocks of the playing list, Shaun Higgins and Adam Cooney, also having departed. Not even 23 months later, essentially the same list is a premiership combination.

Just three players among Saturday's flag-winning line-up – Caleb Daniel, Josh Dunkley and Toby McLean – have come on to the Bulldogs' list since Beveridge's arrival at the club.

Tom Boyd's high-priced deal, one pre-Beveridge gambit that on Saturday delivered in spades, had already been delivered, as had Shane Biggs' trade-in from Sydney. The Dogs had already negotiated a father-son pick at the draft for Zaine Cordy, and Joel Hamling had already been acquired as a delisted free agent.

What does that say? That the group with whom Beveridge has worked is probably a fair distance still from the sort of list he'd most like. More importantly, it says that he has the capacity to make any player that much better under his stewardship.

Some of these premiership Bulldogs may go on to be acknowledged as superstars, but how many are there right now? Marcus Bontempelli, certainly. And really, given the up-and-down season of Jake Stringer since he was prematurely lauded as one, that's about it.

This has been improvement from within, about as tangible a testament to a coaching performance as is possible. Look at just how many Bulldogs have risen to levels most only two seasons ago would have thought unattainable.

Players such as Liam Picken, who has just turned in one of the great individual finals series, but who two years ago was still seen largely as a determined but limited tagger. Matthew Boyd, all but written off as an inside midfielder at the end of 2014, but now reborn as an All-Australian running defender.

And another All-Australian and now premiership captain in Easton Wood. A Norm Smith medallist in Jason Johannisen. Lachie Hunter, who couldn't get a game for much of 2014, or a dangerous small forward in Tory Dickson, whose three goals on Saturday were so important.

Now consider the obstacles thrust in Beveridge's path since he got there. A season-ending knee injury in a practice match at the start of last year to then newly-crowned best and fairest Tom Liberatore.

Then this pre-season the loss for the year through the CAS suspensions of a two-goals-per-game forward in Stewart Crameri. And then a seemingly cataclysmic run of injuries.

One after another, Beveridge lost pivotal defenders. Murphy, then Johannisen, then Matt Suckling. Then he started losing forwards; Toby McLean, then Jack Redpath. Finally, the midfield took a massive hit.

First it was Koby Stevens, who'd been a very reliable contributor over the first half of the season. Mitch Wallis broke his leg in round 19, and the very next week, Liberatore and Jack Macrae were lost for a month each at Geelong. Who at that moment seriously believed the Bulldogs could still win the premiership?

But through the improvement he has solicited from his entire list, Beveridge has fashioned the most even playing group in the AFL. The losses, though profound, were covered. The coach simply found other ways and other means.

Beveridge hasn't reinvented the coaching wheel. There have been no huddles, clusters or webs to speak of. But he has taken the art of man management and coach relationships with players to a new level simply with clear direction, empathy and care.

A good case in point about the standards he expected came early last season when he dropped a leading midfielder in Jack Macrae, who hadn't paid enough attention to the defensive side of his game. Macrae didn't sulk but learnt his lesson, returned to the line-up three games later, and finished eighth in the best and fairest. This year, he's been a midfield rock.

If you want a comparison in coaching terms of what Beveridge has achieved, think of Leigh Matthews leading Collingwood to the 1990 premiership, breaking a 32-year drought, his steely pragmatism seeing off the crushing weight of the infamous "Colliwobbles". The Magpies, however, did finish that season in second spot on the ladder.

The Bulldogs finished seventh with no double-chance buffer, had to play two finals on the road, one in Perth, and knock over not only the defending premiers, but the most consistent team of 2016 as well.

Beveridge had his own curse to deal with in the Dogs' seven straight preliminary final losses, then once that was conquered, ensure that his charges came down quickly enough from that incredible emotional high.

He did it. They did it. And the prize is the ending of a barren period nearly twice as long as Collingwood ever endured. The result is also, thanks to Beveridge, a masterclass in the art of AFL coaching, I think perhaps the best example we've ever seen.

AND WHILE I'M AT IT ...

Hope to heartbreak: Beaten Swans vow to rebuild and return. Photo: Scott Barbour

Not much went right for Sydney on Saturday. Lance Franklin was injured early in the first quarter and Dan Hannebery at a critical stage of the last. The Swans wasted some opportunities and were on the wrong end of a few umpiring calls.

Yet they remained a big chance to win the 2016 grand final with only five minutes left. Which means that, for a second time in three years, when Sydney reviews a season that  failed to deliver the grand prize, pinning down the difference between being a grand finalist and being a premiership side won't be that easy.

Twice now, the Swans have headed the ladder with a 17-5 record, had impressive lead-in finals form yet lost the big one. In 2014, they played their worst game of the season in the most important one. This time, though, that isn't the case.

Sydney coach John Longmire graciously lauded the victors, and pointed to their more even contribution on the day across the 22. There's no doubt the Bulldogs got more from their bottom-end players.

Ben McGlynn, sadly, seemingly cursed on grand final day, had a poor game. So did fellow small forward Tom Papley.

Xavier Richards had minimal impact, as did George Hewett, though his last-quarter goal did keep the Swans alive.

But two years ago, some senior hands had shockers, too. Whatever happens in one game can never completely explain the deficiencies of a grand final loser. If, indeed, there are any.

There's likely to be some focus on big man Kurt Tippett and Gary Rohan, both now saddled with the legacy of two quiet games on the biggest day of the season. But Tippett has been valuable in the ruck this season. Rohan is frustratingly inconsistent, but did exert more scoreboard impact and defensive pressure this season than previously.

This is a team already substantially recast. All it can do is keep presenting.  "We'll be back, we're going nowhere," co-captain Kieren Jack told the crowd on Saturday. And Sydney's history suggests that's a given.