The drought is over – after 55 years in the grand final wilderness, the Western Bulldogs have stormed into an AFL premiership decider.
Despite the dream looking in grave danger late in Saturday’s preliminary final against the GWS Giants, the Bulldogs’ trademark grit and determination under revered coach Luke Beveridge ensured a successful fightback that propelled the team into its first flag decider since 1961.
The fairytale weekend was capped off with a stunning win by Footscray in the VFL decider on Sunday. The Bulldogs trailed by a goal at half-time before piling on 52 points to none in the third quarter to set up the victory.
Bulldogs fans are hoping the senior side can win against the Sydney Swans to add to their lone premiership victory, the 1954 defeat of Melbourne.
For the fourth consecutive week, the Bulldogs will enter a match as underdogs, despite seeing off last year’s grand finalists, West Coast Eagles and Hawthorn, in consecutive do-or-die finals prior to their win over the highly fancied Giants.
More than 8000 passionate Bulldogs fans made the trip to Sydney to witness the victory after an epic arm-wrestle that saw the lead change six times before the Bulldogs finished strongly to win by six points after trailing by 14 in the final quarter.
Fans flooded the field after the match to savour the atmosphere as the momentousness of the occasion set in.
Yarraville’s Max Grarock was one of the supporters who hit the Hume Highway on Saturday to ensure Spotless Stadium was awash with red, white and blue.
“Travelling to Sydney to support them in a preliminary final was a huge honour – I feel tears well up when I think of being at the ’G next weekend,” he said.
“No matter what happens this week, we’re so proud. Woof!”
Mr Grarock travelled to the game with wife Jo and son Herbie, an eight-year-old with an encyclopaedic knowledge of his beloved Bulldogs.
“Most parents teach their children to love their football team – our love for the Bulldogs came from our kid,” Mr Grarock said. “His passion for the Bulldogs was contagious.
“We became members for him … our years cheering the Bulldogs, united as a family, have been indescribably wonderful. Even the lean times when we lost week after week were great.”
Herbie, who has been a supporter for six years, said he was hoping for a grand final win by a close margin.
Maribyrnong council chief executive Stephen Wall said the city, including the town hall, community centres and libraries, would be decked out in the Bulldogs’ tricolours.
“We are very proud that through an extremely tough and emotional season, our Doggies are playing in the 2016 AFL Grand Final,” he said.
“For what has been a very long journey for our community … not appearing in a grand final in 55 years – it is a record we are delighted to have put to rest.
“As for this week, the city of Maribyrnong will come together to celebrate this historic achievement and the town will be painted red, white and blue to support our Doggies on their journey to the last day of the footballing calendar at the MCG.”
The Western Bulldogs will take on the Sydney Swans at the MCG from 2.30pm on Saturday.
