It was a celebration 62 years in the making, and the sons and daughters of the west didn’t disappoint.
More than 20,000 fans descended on the Whitten Oval on Sunday to celebrate after the Bulldogs had broken through for their first VFL/AFL premiership since 1954 with a stirring 22-point win over Sydney 24 hours earlier.
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While many were nursing sore heads after a night of revelry, nothing was going to stop the party as families from all over Melbourne sung and danced their way down Sutton Parade and into their spiritual home to welcome their premiership heroes to the stage.
It was nearly 24 hours after the final siren, but many fans still had tears in their eyes as they joined the long queues into the ground.
Among them was Joan Adams, of Yarraville, who was just five when the Dogs won their first flag. “There was a part of me that thought this day would never come,” she said. “It still feels like a dream, but I’m just so proud of all the boys and everyone here who’s been through some tough years. This is just the best day ever.”
The sea of red, white and blue continued to swell as merchandise stands did a roaring trade and smiling fans waited patiently for their heroes to hit the stage.
PHOTO GALLERY Western Bulldogs Family Day
Comedian and banner writer Danny McGinlay kept the fans entertained throughout the early stages before club president Peter Gordon took to the stage to thank the throngs for their support over a gruelling finals series.
“On behalf of all of you I want to say how happy I am for what’s gone on in the last month,” Gordon said. “Congratulate yourselves, because it’s a great thing to be Bulldogs supporters.”
But there was one group of people everyone had come to see. Soon the premiership team was introduced one by one to the masses and showered with adoration.
There were special cheers throughout. Young star Marcus Bontempelli got an especially large roar before Tom Boyd, who came of age in a match-winning display, had every member of the pack roaring.
But the clear crowd favourites were spiritual leader Bob Murphy, who missed the game through injury, and coach Luke Beveridge, who had delivered the Dogs to the promised land in just his second season at the helm.
The big screens showed a replay of the moment Beveridge handed his premiership medal to Murphy on the premiership dais, and the tears started to flow again in the crowd. Tears of joy for two men who have meant so much to the western suburbs.
“Bob has driven the emotional and spiritual side of our club for a long period of time,” Beveridge said. “He, more than any of us, deserved to be up on that dais, and the 22 boys that played couldn’t think of a more fitting end to the year for Murph. People could feel sorry for themselves, but all he’s wanted is success for this football club and his teammates.”
Chants of “Bevo, Bevo” then started to ring around the famous ground, as players were interviewed and shared their joy with the fans.
Murphy himself said he always had the belief that this side could achieve the ultimate success.
“I had full confidence in them,” he said. “They play with an incredible amount of heart and discipline. They honestly play for all you guys here today.”
