The first was, understandably, relief. The Dogs hadn't won a premiership since 1988 and had fallen short in four trips to the big stage in the years since.

For the long-suffering faithful, the 12.15 (87) to 12.7 (79) victory against Merrivale at Reid Oval on Saturday was reward for their years of hard work, persistence and patience.

The second was gratitude. And Brenton and Matthew O'Rourke were among the most grateful for the way the year had panned out.

The brothers’ grand final stories were about more than experiencing football success together. But to understand why is to know what brought them to that point. 

Rewind to 2014 and they played for different clubs. Matthew, 22, was slowly establishing himself at Dennington after a turbulent 2013 while Brenton, 25, was in and out of the seniors at Warrnambool.

They had grown up together but had become somewhat distant since their teens.

Brenton, wanting that to change and questioning his football future, left the Blues to join the Dogs at the end of the season.

"I was playing a little bit of seniors, a little bit of reserves. I couldn't crack it all the time," he said.

"You get to a certain age and realise you don't have long left. I might only be 25 but I've never had a chance to play with Matt. It was a real big thing.

"It's been good to mend some bridges, we haven't been that close but this year has been unbelievable.

"Matt has a newborn, Charlotte, and we've been around each other all year and that's the first time in our lives (that's happened).

"I was really conscious at the start of the year I had a few options and I made the move to Dennington because I wanted to play with Matt and to do it for Dad."

The reason behind Brenton mentioning their father is significant, but can wait. Why weren't the brothers close to begin with?

"We're probably polar opposites, beyond the looks. I'm a bit more relaxed and reserved, Matt is a bit more out there," Brenton said.

"That's what people are, everyone is different. Growing up was tough, we didn't see eye to eye all the time."

Epitomising their differences are their roles on the ground. Matthew is an emerging forward learning his craft under coach Darcy Lewis while Brenton is a defender more suited to being assigned a job.

But the brothers' football fairytale was on the verge of being out of reach after Merrivale raced to a 7.2-to-0.2 lead within 25 minutes.

A goal from a free kick late in the first term - kicked by Matthew - cut the deficit to 36 points. The importance of that major is hard to quantify but gave the Dogs a sense of what was possible.

They booted 11.13 to 5.5 thereafter to win by eight points. The last quarter, when the lead changed five times before Scotty Stewart Medal winner Alex Pye produced a piece of magic to seal the result, will go down in league folklore.

The triumph was memorable for multiple reasons: They were brothers who had played in a flag together. Their past made that a more treasured experience. Then there was the connection to their father.

Francis "Chook" O'Rourke, a well-known Warrnambool horse trainer, died from cancer on Valentine's Day, 2009, aged 48. Grand final day - September 12 - would have been his 55th birthday.

He left behind wife Maria and children Brenton, Matthew and Caitlin, who on Saturday was also part of a premiership, with the Dogs' A reserve netball side.

"It's been really tough on the family over the years, it's been a big thing in all of our lives. I was 19, Matt was 15, Caity was 11. It rocked the family," Brenton said.

"To win today on his birthday…the wind changed to a southerly in the third quarter, then it changed to a northerly in the last quarter.

"The whole game I was just sitting there thinking Dad is with us today, we've got this. I never panicked.

"It's the best thing I've ever been a part of. To share it with Matt is unbelievable."

Matthew shares the sentiment.

"It means the world to win for Dennington and Darcy and everyone involved with the club, and to play with my brother, it's just unreal, no better feeling," he said.

Matthew started his career at North Warrnambool Eagles and spent a year at South Rovers before crossing to Dennington.

"A lad by the name of Peter Doukas gave me a drive in his racecar...I told him I'd come across and play with him and I haven't left since.”

He played his first senior match in 2010 but struggled to cement a spot until 2013. An off-the-ball strike on Deakin University's Dave Atkinson then cost him six weeks through suspension.

Matthew returned to play in the reserves grand final. He managed three senior matches last season but added 17 to his tally - including the grand final - this campaign. 

Matthew credited the faith in him shown by Lewis for his transformation and maturity as a footballer.

"Darcy has taken me under his wing, there's no better bloke to be playing alongside at centre-half-forward," he said.

"He's given me every opportunity. Hopefully today I've repaid him and I can keep repaying him for the next so many years.

“He's a legend, he's a legend of Dennington, he is Dennington."

A grateful Dog indeed.