What does making the Grand Final mean to you?

[Bornadog]

Re: What does making the Grand Final mean to you?

Even sweeter - in a most schadenfreudey way - is that reminiscing of the Giants' 'history' now begins with Macrae handballing to Libba handballing to Tom Boyd handballing to Stringer centreing to Dickson...

May they marinate in that for quite some time.

In my best MacAvaney affection; "Deliciouuuus!".

The forgotten man

[Rocket Science]

Re: What does making the Grand Final mean to you?

The forgotten man

Remiss of me.

In fact, more than happy to rewind it back as far as Scully's 'missed' 50m.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: What does making the Grand Final mean to you?

It means a hell of a lot.

I love this club, my family loves this club, we've been diehard members for all our lives (25 years, 35+ years) and live and breathe every handball and kick EVERY week EVERY year.

I grew up where I was one of few Doggies fans, surrounded by Geelong supporters who have had plenty of success and weren't afraid to rub it in. I went to the heartbreak of 97, the capitulation of 98, the disappointment of 08, the heartbreak (again) of 09 and the end of the inevitable at 2010.

Seen the club almost fold, seen it kicked to the curb and spat on and now I've seen it rise. I had a dream to play AFL myself but never got the chance because of injury, so all my focus has been on the Dogs for many many years. I remember Chris Grant's goal v Essendon in 2000, I remember his point in the 1997 PF. I remember Cooney's running goal in the 2006 EF, I remember Gilbee missing a shot in the dying minutes of the 2009 PF.

I remember facing great adversity this season. I remember destroying West Coast in Perth in the EF to win our first ever interstate final when nobody said we could. I remember beating the triple premiers at the MCG in front of 88,000 people, when the media said it couldn't be done. I remember our side breaking history to defeat a plastic manufactured club in GWS at their own home deck to advance to our first Grand Final in some 55 years!

I will never forget this month or this week, I will never forget the Grand Final parade or heading to the MCG on Grand Final Day 2016.

One more step. Let's belt the living shit out of Sydney and complete the fairytale.

[LostDoggy]

Re: What does making the Grand Final mean to you?

I unashamedly shed tears on last Saturday night.

You definatey weren't alone there

[AndrewP6]

Re: What does making the Grand Final mean to you?

It means an enormous amount. I'm on the sth-east side of town, but have only ever followed the Dogs. Dad was from the Western Districts of Victoria - little town called Cobden (Garry Rohan and Ben Cunnington both from there). He moved to the city when he was about 18 to look for work, and first lived in St Albans. Also lived in Footscray and Yarraville (and probably some other places I've forgotten), and played Footy for years with Parkside FC, he was named in their team of the century (2003) too. He worked for V Line, and used to walk to work with EJ. EJ passed away in August '95, Dad in November that year. He didn't live to see our best teams, but stayed through and through. All the years of following the Dogs, and we were either down the arse end of the ladder, or everyone's second team but never quite good enough. I remember in the late 90s wearing my footy jumper to basketball training, and the boys took great delight in giving me stick. I saw the PF run from '08-10, sat shattered in '09 as I thought that could be the year.

Two years ago it seemed we were knee deep in the muddy. Coach, captain, several players - gone. This year, with injuries seemingly on a weekly basis, I thought the usual "Oh well, we'll reset next year". They absolutely astounded me the first two finals. Last weekend in Sydney, was just.... I'm not sure how to describe it adequately. Suddenly, for the first time in my (and many others) lives, Grand Final week means something. We are in the papers, on the TV, hell there is even a GF Footy Record with us on the cover! People wherever I go in Dogs colours, want to discuss them. 16 other teams are on holidays, and WE are playing for a premiership.

Yep, this means a lot.

[ReLoad]

Re: What does making the Grand Final mean to you?

Ive always said when I was laughed at at school becase of my team, taken pity on by people whose teams win all the time, that one day when it happens it will be a million times sweater than anything that you have ever seen.

The road we travel on is what makes the destination more memorable, and jeez have we been on one hell of a road!

Nobody but us can understand or appreciate what we are going through, to have been through what we have, to battle and scrape and fight for every god damned inch, to be given nothing, to have to beat every single thing that conspires against us makes this a real true fairytale.

If we were to win, and yes its a big IF I put it to you, and i dare someone to argue, that our month of football has been the greatest by any side ever in the history of our game. EVER.

I just got off a 13 hour flight where i watched the last 3 games back to back on my ipad and i freakin sobbed like a baby at the end of each of them. I had only seen snippets and highlights, but christ they were epic wins each one of them in a different way.

[Missing Dog]

Re: What does making the Grand Final mean to you?

My journey started in 83 I have seen all but 1 PF along the journey I have made sure each and every one of my 5 nieces and my nephew were bulldogs. Have I made their life a misery crossed my mind more than once I met my now ex wife and her 2 young sons all Bombers within 12 months all red white and blue through an though. On Saturday though not all sitting together I will have 2 brothers 1 sister in law 4 nieces 1 nephew and 2 stepsons watching MY team in the grand final!!!!!!!
What does it mean to me? everything all the pain tears frustration and fear I have felt in my 33 years as a member and lover of all things bulldog have been worth it. I can't wait to walk to the ground with my family to see my team on the biggest of days oh yes I am enjoying the ride.

[Daughter of the West]

Re: What does making the Grand Final mean to you?

I think it's already been eluded to, but exercising past demons.

Just that damn PF monkey on the back of our football club. The number of times it gets mentioned in commentary, brought out in stats, referred to in passing.

I sat at Spotless when we were five points up, feeling sick and dreading the ball slingshotting down the other end for a goal. I didn't want to dredge up the Saints game again, but damn the feeling was familiar. Thinking all of these Scraggers here had invested so much heart, come so far, yelled so loudly, spent so much time, energy and passion to be crushed yet again. And then all of a sudden - Dicko's lining up for goal and the siren going and the dread dried up like it never existed. Replace by absolutely unadulterated euphoria.

[merantau]

Re: What does making the Grand Final mean to you?

Ive always said when I was laughed at at school becase of my team, taken pity on by people whose teams win all the time, that one day when it happens it will be a million times sweater than anything that you have ever seen.

The road we travel on is what makes the destination more memorable, and jeez have we been on one hell of a road!

Nobody but us can understand or appreciate what we are going through, to have been through what we have, to battle and scrape and fight for every god damned inch, to be given nothing, to have to beat every single thing that conspires against us makes this a real true fairytale.

If we were to win, and yes its a big IF I put it to you, and i dare someone to argue, that our month of football has been the greatest by any side ever in the history of our game. EVER.

I just got off a 13 hour flight where i watched the last 3 games back to back on my ipad and i freakin sobbed like a baby at the end of each of them. I had only seen snippets and highlights, but christ they were epic wins each one of them in a different way.

You've said it all my friend.

[Danny the snakeman]

Re: What does making the Grand Final mean to you?

I remember destroying West Coast in Perth in the EF to win our first ever interstate final when nobody said we could.

I will never forget that, best game/win/feeling I have been at . I could not get to the GF but that game was my GF.