Bulldogs fan for 30 years inspired by their never-give-up spirit.
Experienced homelessness.
Now safely housed.
Even if you've had a bad day or week, you feel joy watching a game. What I like about the Bulldogs is they never give up - they keep going.
I grew up with rugby league in NSW, and my team was Newcastle Knights who are red, white and blue – so when I came to Melbourne I got onto the Western Bulldogs. It was a colour choice. I’ve been a fan for about 30 years.
If you have had a bad day or a bad week even if your team loses you feel joy watching a game. I’d like to go to at least one game this season, but I’m on pension and money only goes so far, and I’ve got a cat, and I don’t like leaving her alone for too long. But watching it on TV is not the same as being there.
The public treats you badly when you’re homeless. I used to get a cask of wine, go down to the beach and just drink until I got drunk, and pass out in the sand. I’ve been in supported housing for 15 years now, and I’m thinking about moving out this year. I just want a change and more room for my cat. She was a princess but now she’s a queen, she’s taken over my unit.
I was really happy when the Bulldogs won the premiership in 2016. They were 7th on the ladder, and they got up and won. The last time they won was 1954, that’s over 60 years. The way they defeated the Swans is very special to me, because that’s what I like about the Bulldogs, they never gave up. Some teams just give up, but they kept on going.
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