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Re: Virtual Cheer Squad
Bred Bulldog: Paul Schwedes
Red, white and blue proudly ran through the veins of Paul Schwedes.
And on Friday night, he will be at Marvel Stadium – at least, in cardboard cut-out form.
Paul passed away almost a year ago, aged 81, after a life-time of cheering on Footscray and the Western Bulldogs.
When the opportunity arose to have him represented in the crowd, his family jumped at it.
“When I heard about the virtual cheer squad, I thought, Dad would have loved to be at the game,” his daughter, Zoe Elliott, said.
“I contacted the Bulldogs to find out how I could get Dad in the crowd.”
And now he’s there, ready and waiting for the Bulldogs to take on the GWS Giants on Friday night, alongside a host of Bulldogs supporters from all parts of the country.
Paul’s allegiance to the Bulldogs started at a young age and never wavered.
“Dad has barracked for the Bulldogs since he was about nine years old – so he saw two premierships in his time,” Zoe said.
“I’m not really sure why he started supporting the Bulldogs, but he was an avid supporter.
“As part of his funeral ceremony, when he was lowered down we actually played the Bulldogs theme song.
“He was a cheeky character, so it was a bit of a moment there.”
His legacy as a Bulldogs man will carry on into the future too.
Five of his nine grandchildren have followed in his footsteps, according to Zoe, while the Western Bulldogs’ supporters group he helped found in the Wimmera region lives on.
That four-hour drive from Horsham to Melbourne was made often.
Zoe recalls trips to Melbourne as a child conveniently overlapping with opportunities to watch – then Footscray – train at Whitten Oval.
“Dad would be in there for ages, talking and whatever with club people,” she said.
“He was pretty excited about the Bulldogs.”
The great Ted Whitten Sr was one of his favourites.
And there was a young bloke who caught his eye a few years back, who he thought might have something special.
“He was a huge fan of Teddy Whitten,” Zoe said.
“He used to comment, back in his early days, that the ‘Bont’ would have a big future.
“He picked him out early on and thought he’d be one to watch… a pretty good judge of character.”
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Re: Virtual Cheer Squad
Great story, will be bitter sweet for Paul’s family-thanks for posting it Axe Man.
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Re: Virtual Cheer Squad
Originally Posted by
GVGjr
There is actually a few other legends in that front row with Garry and I think I spied the one of our great supporters who until his passing earlier this year was the longest player sponsor around 26 yeas I think
Great initiative by the club in my opinion
My beautiful friend Glenice next to Irene.
I bleed Red,White & Blue
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Re: Virtual Cheer Squad
I couldn't find my son in the pics or video that have been put up on here ... he must be on the side or up the back. I'll have to record the game tonight and freeze frame to find him
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Re: Virtual Cheer Squad
I don’t know if anyone else noticed but every time a goal was kicked there was someone who went in and out the “crowd” back up after the ball knocked them over
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Re: Virtual Cheer Squad
Did you find EJ, Scraggers?
"It's over. It's all over."
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Re: Virtual Cheer Squad
Originally Posted by
Scraggers
I couldn't find my son in the pics or video that have been put up on here ... he must be on the side or up the back. I'll have to record the game tonight and freeze frame to find him
They did say they will rotate the cutouts each game, so that those who were up the back will be closer to the front next game.
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Re: Virtual Cheer Squad
Originally Posted by
jazzadogs
They did say they will rotate the cutouts each game, so that those who were up the back will be closer to the front next game.
Hadn’t seen that but it makes sense - couldn’t see my boy last night either, but we’ll look forward to more opportunities.
Float Along - Fill Your Lungs
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Re: Virtual Cheer Squad
Originally Posted by
EasternWest
Did you find EJ, Scraggers?
Yep ... front row, but behind the goal post on the camera angle. Once we spotted him, he was easy to find
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Re: Virtual Cheer Squad
Originally Posted by
Scraggers
Yep ... front row, but behind the goal post on the camera angle. Once we spotted him, he was easy to find
Yup I spotted him too.
A bit furrier than I remember...
https://imgur.com/a/INcCmv1
"It's over. It's all over."
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Re: Virtual Cheer Squad
Originally Posted by
EasternWest
Yeah ... we are not really sure what is happening. Puberty maybe???
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Re: Virtual Cheer Squad
FFC: Established 1883
Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.
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Re: Virtual Cheer Squad
St Kilda's scarves looked a bit sad I thought, like someone had died.