Just over a month ago, Dale Morris broke his back in Perth.

It was a dirty day for the Bulldogs; they were beaten by 20 points against a Fremantle side who won just four games for the season.

On the eve of the finals, it could have easily been a confidence-sapping defeat.

And it could have easily been a season-ending injury for Morris, who broke two vertebrae in his back.

But the 33-year-old defender, who had tasted defeat with the Bulldogs in three preliminary finals previously, was told by the club’s medical staff that his injury could not get worse.

So, away he went, battling through pain to play important shutdown roles in the club’s thrilling run of finals victories against West Coast, Hawthorn and Greater Western Sydney.

The GWS match almost didn’t happen for Morris, who was clearly in pain during the warm-up, but he played before impressing in his club’s drought-breaking grand final win over Sydney.

After the game and with nothing but celebrations on the horizon, Morris, who won 15 possessions against the Swans, then revealed his fitness battle.

Morris lays a tackle on Gary Rohan in the grand final. Photo: Getty

“I may have (broken my back) in the last game against Freo, but who cares now,” Morris told the Seven Network.

“Everyone plays through injuries.

“I talked to the fitness staff, the (doctors) and all the rest of it and we went through things and they assured me nothing can get worse.

“It’s a pain management thing and we go for it.”

He then added with a smile: “I wasn’t going to miss this for the world.”

“This is amazing. Words can’t describe how I’m feeling personally … it’s incredible.

“It’s an out of body experience, almost.

“I don’t think it’s really hit me. It’s been a bit of a blur.”

Morris (L) celebrates with Tom Boyd. Photo: Getty

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge paid tribute to Morris after his club’s thrilling 22-point victory.

Beveridge said, in quotes reported by the AFL website: “He got injured a few weeks ago, but try and hold him back.

“His courage and bravery got him through, we were a bit concerned when he got hit early in the game.

“It would have hit that area, but he made it through.”

While the Bulldogs comfortably won the inside 50 count (59-41), their defenders did a terrific job to restrict Sydney to just 10 goals in the decider.

The Swans, who booted 33 goals in their two finals victories, struggled for forward cohesion with Lance Franklin – clearly hampered by an ankle injury suffered in the first quarter – their only threatening target.

Franklin had 16 disposals and one goal, but the bulk of Sydney’s goals were kicked by midfielders, a statistic that rarely equates to a finals win.

But one of the defining moments of the match came when Morris laid a desperate tackle on Franklin in the middle of the ground during the final quarter.

His effort turned over the ball and created the chance for Tom Boyd to kick a 60-metre goal that put the Dogs 15 points up and effectively iced the win.