As the Western Bulldogs enjoy a cracking start to the season, one fan is soaking it up more than most.
Western Bulldogs cheer squad member Clive Mitchell celebrated his 88th birthday watching his beloved Bulldogs see off Melbourne on Sunday.
Mr Mitchell, a Bulldogs member for more than 80 years, can be found front and centre of the cheer squad at every game. He grew up with the Dogs in Footscray but moved with his family to Corio to take up a job at Shell.
Red, white and blue still pulse through his veins and he travels to every home game to support the club he joined as a member in 1933 at the tender age of five.
Mr Mitchell joined the cheer squad in 1958, lending his voice to the roar from the wing at Whitten Oval.
His all-time favourite Dogs are Tony Liberatore, Doug Hawkins and 1950s star Herb Henderson, the Bulldogs’ fullback of the century.
“The best thing about being a Bulldog is they keep you guessing! But once you’re a Bulldog, you’re always a Bulldog,” Mr Mitchell says.
His current favourite Bulldog is injured captain Bob Murphy.
“I hope he will play on next year.”
Mr Mitchell was there to cheer on the Dogs as they took out the 1954 grand final against Melbourne by 51 points, the club’s first and still only premiership.
Naturally, the match remains his favourite, but he also remembers fondly a 1978 fixture against St Kilda in which full-forward Kelvin Templeton kicked 15 goals and nine behinds on his way to becoming the first Bulldog to kick more than 100 goals in a season.
Another favourite moment was when club legend Ted Whitten handed Doug Hawkins the ball as he broke Whitten’s long-standing club record of 321 games.
Mr Mitchell recalls missing a rare game on May 23, 1953 – the day he married his wife Beryl.
“I heard the score updates at the church. The game was against Fitzroy and they only kicked one goal against us,” he said.
“Ted Whitten was the groundsman at Western Oval and they accused him of clogging up the drains, causing the centre square to be a foot under water!”
His most disappointing moment was in 1961 when the Bulldogs lost their final grand final appearance to date, to minor premiers Hawthorn.
“It was hard to get a ticket for that game but I got one. They were up at half time but fell asleep.”
But 2016 could be the year of the Dog once more, Mr Mitchell reckons.
“They will certainly be in the finals. If they make the grand final the whole of Victoria will be on their side! It’s too early in the season to be confident of the result.”
