Grand Final – Melbourne v Western Bulldogs: Bulldogs Anonymous

 

                                           

 

 

BULLDOGS ANONYMOUS

 

 

“Welcome everybody to the September meeting of  Bulldogs Anonymous.

 

“Remember, no judgements. Just support for anyone who is feeling they are losing their anonymity,  particularly at this time of year. Now, who’d like to go first…yes…Neil.”

 

“Thank you. My name is Neil and I have been an anonymous Bulldog supporter for most of my life.”

 

“Hi Neil!”

 

“I have been tested to be remain anonymous over the years at various times and to stay true to our beliefs, particularly at the time of the 1954 and 2016 premierships. The focus on these historical moments by the media and the general public was so intense, I am ashamed to say I did weaken and fall off the wagon. I have learnt ways to combat the impact of publicity and I am more prepared this time with our team once again in the grand final. We can remain anonymous if we stay strong.

 

In 1954 after the grand finaI, I began wearing my Footscray jumper to school with Teddy Whitten’s number three on the back.  It was a Footscray primary school so most of the kids had the same idea.  Ironically, I didn’t stand out, so it may have been the beginning of my anonymous supporter’s career.

 

1955 to 2016 were the halcyon years for the true believers to be anonymous.  There was never any reason during that time to break out the red, white and blue bunting or wear your old Bulldog jumper at footy training.

 

1961 was one of the few times anonymous supporters could have been tested when Footscray played Hawthorn in the grand-final. Hawthorn with Kennedy’s commandos were on a mission to win their first premiership, and from memory, they did it easily.

 

Just like Melbourne started their incredible run of premierships after Footscray beat them in 1954, Hawthorn started their winning streaks after they beat Footscray in 1961.

 

So began decades of the Footscray/Western Bulldogs name disappearing as a select few clubs won the premierships and all the glory. For the anonymous Bulldog true believers, it was our hey-day. No expectation of winning a grand-final. No temptations to go over to the dark side and paint the front fence red, white and blue.

 

So the decades rolled on with what seemed like every other team being successful, except the Bulldogs. Early 1960’s it was Carlton and Geelong fighting it out. StKilda broke through in 1966 and Richmond dominated in the late sixties and early 70’s. Then it was a time when Hawthorn and North Melbourne players filled the colour supplements of the papers. Envious Bulldog supporters could only see yet another photo of Snake Baker taking a screamer over his Hawthorn opponent. Hawthorn dominated the publicity over the next three decades while Bulldog anonymous believers hibernated.

 

For those of us believe in anonymity, it was what we craved. World Of Sport interviewed players from the handful of successful teams and perhaps only twice during the season, we saw a glimpse of a Garry Dempsey or a George Bissett.

 

In the early 1990s the Bulldogs regrouped after the failed merger with Fitzroy. The Bulldogs began  to play in preliminary finals and I was tempted to break my anonymous supporter’s code.

 

Working in a country town at this stage, I felt a few Bulldog team posters in the office could do no harm. But I felt dirty, so when the Bulldogs failed in those prelims, I was glad to take down the posters and not mention the Bulldogs again.

 

The Bulldogs lack of success until 2016 was plain sailing for us Bulldog Anons. Some people would see 1997 and 1998 as successful years. It was only successful for those of us who slunk away following those defeats and return to the comfort of anonymity.

 

And now we face another challenge to remain anonymous with another Bulldog grand-final looming. We are under additional pressure with a two-week lead-in to the grand-final not helped by the fact that the publicity will centre around the fact the Bulldogs will play Melbourne as they did in 1954.

 

So what have I learnt from 2016 when I weakened and wanted to tell anyone who would listen that I barracked for the Bulldogs…and that I actually went to the first grand final!

 

It will be easier this time around if we are not tempted to join the throng of supporters at the Whitten Oval because of Covid. I’m not proud of the fact that I was there on that day in October 2016, but a premiership after 62 years will do that to you. I had reached my lowest ebb and that’s when I contacted Bulldogs Anonymous the following day.

 

It will be difficult to stay strong if the Bulldogs win the premiership. A couple of handy tips. If you buy the paper with the team photos, don’t tell the newsagent you are only buying this paper because it has the Bulldog’s poster in it…which is your team. The same with the Football Record. Don’t say you are only buying it because it has a picture of Bailey Smith on the cover…and he plays for your team.

 

Finally as you sit alone watching the grand-final and the Bulldogs win, turn off your phone. Otherwise you will be bombarded with calls from people who don’t follow the footy, but remembered from the past that you did. “ Didn’t you used to barrack for Footscray?”

 

We can survive this coming week if we stay strong and adhere to our principles. I would like to recommend that we meet here again after the grand-final and if the Bulldogs win, we can quietly toast the victory and still remain anonymous. Just don’t tell anyone. Thank you.”

 

(round of applause)

 

 

 

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