12 ways to know you're a Western Bulldogs fan

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/af...-1227029162638

12 ways to know you’re a Western Bulldogs fan
ANTHONY DOWSLEY HERALD SUN AUGUST 19, 2014 11:37AM

LONG-suffering and loyal. That’s the bulldog breed.

We may only have one flag, but we’ve had more Brownlow medallists than most clubs and some of the game’s most beloved players were ours.

We’ve survived merger threats, financial crises and name changes.

Here’s how you know you’re a Doggies fan:

1. Passing down stories of our premiership glory in 1954 from those who were there.

2. Cherishing Brownlow medals. We have 10 Brownlow medallists, the second-most of any club and equal with St Kilda.

3. Knowing that if you’re overseas in late September the year we finally make the “big dance” again, you’ll be booking an emergency flight home.

4. Understanding heartbreak.

5. Seeking out other Bulldog fans, knowing you’ll like them.

6. Being able to spell Bontempelli.

7. Still calling the Western Bulldogs Footscray.

8. Loving the fight against the powerful, cashed-up clubs.

9. Knowing that the most iconic figure to have played the game — EJ Whitten — played for us.

10. Unyielding hope.

11. Being amused by bumper sticker slogans to “merge Oakley into outer space’’.

12. We’ve all seen The Year of the Dogs. It summed us up: A lot of good players around, but there’s always turmoil.