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WESTERN Bulldogs list manager Jason McCartney admits even he is surprised by the club's sharp rise to premiership glory, saying it came "a couple of years" ahead of when he expected the Dogs to challenge.

The Dogs saluted to claim a historic second flag after a memorable contest with the Sydney Swans on Saturday, winning by 22 points in front of 99,981 people at the MCG.

The club's brilliant recruiting in recent seasons was a crucial part of their success, but even McCartney has been blown away by their rapid rise, saying it has come along quicker than he thought.

"For me, it has. If you ask 'Bevo' (coach Luke Beveridge), he would've thought we should've won the flag last year he's got so much belief in the players. It shines through in the way they play," McCartney told AFL.com.au in the Bulldogs' triumphant rooms post-match.

"If you go on age and games experience from premiership teams in the past it's a bit earlier than we would've expected, but you know what? Who gives a stuff."

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McCartney, who held coaching roles with the AFL national academy and at Fremantle before joining the Dogs as list manager in 2012, said the club had to navigate the difficult period of Greater Western Sydney and Gold Coast entering the competition while rebuilding its list.

He credited recruiting manager Simon Dalrymple as a key part of the flag win.

"Simon had done a lot of hard work when I came in five years ago and we probably thought it was still another couple of years away. But you jut don't know. The recruiting team had to go about rebuilding a list with two new franchises coming in," McCartney said.

"To put it in context, it's a phenomenal effort. We weren't gifted the early picks with other teams coming in.

"Simon's done a great job. He's very methodical and really well prepared and leaves no stone unturned. There's a really good team around him and they go unheralded. It's great that our interstate guys are here because ultimately Simon gets the call on it, but there's a lot of work that goes into it."

The Dogs had six rookies play in the premiership win, including Norm Smith medallist Jason Johannisen, who was selected at pick No.39 in the 2011 rookie draft.

Their 2014 intake of players was also important in the flag victory, with high-priced recruit Tom Boyd starring with three goals, and low-profile defender Joel Hamling manning Swans star Lance Franklin.

Shane Biggs also joined the Dogs that trade period for the bargain cost of a two-place shift down the draft order, while Toby McLean (draft pick No.26) and Caleb Daniel (No.46) have proved fruitful selections.

Father-son pick Zaine Cordy, drafted at No.64 in the same year, was also crucial in the win.

"They have come in and made an impact. You have to nail your picks and your trades and if you get that right over three years with four or five picks, then it starts to shape your side," McCartney said.

"Some of the stories are amazing. Zaine Cordy we drafted as a backman, but he's just had an impact as a forward smashing and crashing packs. He kicked our first goal from the boundary line."

As well as smart later picks, the Dogs also made bold calls at the top of the draft. Their selections of Jake Stringer (pick five, 2012) and Marcus Bontempelli (pick four, 2013) were brave but have proved exceptional decisions.

McCartney played at Adelaide in 1997 when it broke through for its first premiership, but did not feature in the Grand Final victory.

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He was traded to North Melbourne and played the next premiership decider when the Roos lost to the Crows, and he was then suspended during the 1999 preliminary final and sat out North's flag win.

He said the Dogs' result was extremely satisfying but didn't have an extra meaning after his missed chances at glory as a player.

"To me, those years are irrelevant to this. That was my playing days and I was lucky enough to be around at Adelaide and North Melbourne when we won flags. Unfortunately I only played in the losing one, but I'm in a different role now and very proud to be a part of the Bulldog family," he said.

"It's phenomenal and I'm nearly lost for words. This group has so much resilience. To think of everything we've had to overcome this year and to go to Perth and given no chance to win a final there, it's just been the most magical four weeks of footy."