WAFL 2025: South Fremantle midfielder Jake Florenca still uses 2020 grand final heartache as driving factor

South Fremantle star Jake Florenca was the heartbreak story of the Bulldogs’ 2020 premiership. A ruptured Achilles in the preliminary final cost him a spot in the dramatic three-point win over Claremont, which he watched from his couch. Florenca still uses the game as a major motivation for his WAFL career, revealing he recently re-watched the decider in preparation for this year’s finals series. SEE THE WEST AUSTRALIAN’S WAFL TEAM OF THE YEAR FOR 2025 “A few weeks ago I watched the 2020 grand final again because it’s such a motivator and driver for me,” he told The West Australian. “All the stars are aligning for me this weekend so I can’t be more excited. “To get the premiership would mean everything to me. My uncle Tom Bottrell is presenting the cup at the end of the game, so that’ll be great if we get it.” The 28-year-old will play in his third decider when the Bulldogs meet East Perth at Optus Stadium on Sunday, having been part of losing efforts in 2019 and 2021. Florenca has had one of the more remarkable and tough few years of any footballer in WA. A powerful inside midfielder, Florenca played a game for West Coast in 2022 after being part of their COVID contingency list. He impressed in the loss to Brisbane at the Gabba with 19 touches, seven tackles and four clearances which left many believing he had what it took to play at the next level. Unfortunately, his body didn’t give him the continuity to be able to push for higher honours, with a series of soft tissue injures restricting him to only 22 games in the past three seasons. “It was a rollercoaster of emotions to be honest because I was in the best form of my life and then I tore my hamstring a week after the mid-season draft,” Florenca said. “I was on top of the world one week and then crashing down the next week, but everything happens for a reason. “It was definitely testing because I know what I can do when I am at full strength but playing this weekend it’ll be all worthwhile I think.” Florenca took his destiny into his own hands. He hired a personal trainer over the off-season and has been rewarded with a bit of luck, playing all 19 games this season and polling a career-best 17 Sandover Medal votes on Monday night. Averaging 26 disposals, Florenca is part of a formidable midfield led by Matt Parker and featuring the likes of Isiah Winder, Matt Ward and Tom Blechynden. “It’s been probably the most enjoyable year of my career, especially because we’re winning nearly every game and with the new coaching group in, and Whitey (coach Craig White), it’s such a good feeling at the moment,” he said. “Whitey lets me play to my strengths. He knows what I can do on the inside, so he just lets me do my thing. “It’s a whirlwind playing with Parksy, Winder and Blech in there as well. I just see my job as getting it from the inside to the outside to Matty and Issy and let them do their magic.” White said Florenca’s ability to get back to his best had surprised him after years of injury struggles. “The biggest one is the way he’s been able to throw himself in again. I had to have a conversation with him in the off-season because I don’t think he was sure if he was going to go again,” White said. “I can’t necessarily say that I convinced him to play. It was just more outlining the kind of program and how I’d like it to look and giving him some confidence that if he can get his continuity right, he’s still a really quality player. “Did I think he could get back to the qualify of football he’s played this year? Maybe not, but he’s just been the ultimate professional. The adversity has given him a really clear goal and to be able to focus in on what he wants, which is a premiership. “He’s just an unbelievably great character, goes under the radar, does all the team things that we rate and I’m just so glad that he’s getting a little bit of reward and hopefully he can play well at the weekend.”