Jack Macrae has been a model of consistency across his 183-game career.
The Western Bulldogs midfielder simply gets it done week in, week out.
In 2021, Macrae has somehow managed to take his game to the next level with his steady output which has now delivered 30 or more disposals in 22 of his 24 matches.
The most recent of those came when he helped guide the Bulldogs to a one point victory over the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba in last Saturday night’s crazy Semi Final.
Macrae was his side’s best player in the intense do-or-die final, finishing with 39 disposals, 11 clearances, 11 inside 50s and an enormous 813 metres gained - all game highs. He also contributed in attack with nine score involvements and kicked a crucial goal at the start of the final quarter.
The 27-year-old was full of praise of his fellow Dogs midfielders in the wake of the thrilling win.
“It was a bloody good win. It just shows the maturity if the group, we kept coming,” he told Channel 7.
“It didn’t always go our way. We know they’re a great team, it was a hard game to win and I’m so impressed with the boys.
“We’ve got a lot of self-belief. It’s all from the coaches and the players and we all live that belief.
“We went away from what was making us a great midfield and that was just winning and scrapping it.”
Macrae says the Dogs on-ballers had to revert back to what they know after a few down weeks late in the home and away season.
“We had a reset after the Port Adelaide game as a midfield group and just had an honest chat about where we’re at and what we need to work on,” he added.
“The boys have responded as we knew we would.”
The three-time All-Australian became just the second player in history to amass 30-plus disposals, 10-plus clearances, 10-inside 50s and one or more goals in a final since Essendon’s Joe Misiti in 2000.
Macrae has racked up a massive 818 disposals this season which has him just 30 short of Hawthorn on-baller Tom Mitchell’s record of 848 which was set in his Brownlow Medal season of 2018.
Macrae is TopSport's Best of the Best for Finals Week 2.
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