When I started barracking for the Dogs and Why.

[Ghost Dog]

How did you come to the club?
Was your old man a dogs die hard?
Were you born in the west?
Were you a complete non-AFL supporter? Did you gravitate to the club and become interested in AFL after watching " Year of the Dogs" ( Like me ) , not wanting the club to go the way of Fitzroy.

What's your story?
Hope this makes for an interesting thread.

P.S. I was riding my bike down Malvern Rd. Armadale to work the other day and spotted D. Smorgon having a coffee on the street with a friend. CARN DOGS! I yelled. Hope I didn't make him spill his coffee.

[AndrewP6]

Re: When I started barracking for the Dogs and Why.

This is a similar thread:

http://www.woof.net.au/forum/showthread.php?t=1650&highlight=follow+bulldogs

[LostDoggy]

Re: When I started barracking for the Dogs and Why.

I think there might of been a similar thread in the past.
But i will tell you my story

My mum's side of the family have always supported Footscray, and I decided to keep the trend going, since dad's side of the family follow Essendon but are more bandwagoners than anything else.
I have always lived south of Melb on the Mornington Peninsula, its VERY rare to find a Western Bulldogs supporter down here. I'm continuously surrounded by feral Collingwood and St. Kilda supporters!
So yeah, thats my story! I'm happy the way I turned out

[Doggy]

Re: When I started barracking for the Dogs and Why.

Mum's side of the family were Footscray supporters, dad's were Essendon. I and my two brothers were all Essendon supporters from birth. My nan on mum's side offered me two bob to swap teams and become a Doggy. Two bob for a seven year old in 1972 was a fortune so here I am today. My early childhood was spent going to Windy Hill watching Essendon with my dad and brothers but I was always glued to the scoreboard waiting to see the around the ground scores. After the game dad "had" to go to the Brickmakers Arms to discuss the finer points of the days play and then it was home and I'd be in front of the Tele hoping the Dogs would feature on the replay. My brothers to this day stir me for taking the "cash" and remind me constantly of the four premierships I could have been a part of. Hey but who cares I'm a Doggy man.

[Doc26]

Re: When I started barracking for the Dogs and Why.

Mum's side of the family were Footscray supporters, dad's were Essendon. I and my two brothers were all Essendon supporters from birth. My nan on mum's side offered me two bob to swap teams and become a Doggy. Two bob for a seven year old in 1972 was a fortune so here I am today. My early childhood was spent going to Windy Hill watching Essendon with my dad and brothers but I was always glued to the scoreboard waiting to see the around the ground scores. After the game dad "had" to go to the Brickmakers Arms to discuss the finer points of the days play and then it was home and I'd be in front of the Tele hoping the Dogs would feature on the replay. My brothers to this day stir me for taking the "cash" and remind me constantly of the four premierships I could have been a part of. Hey but who cares I'm a Doggy man.

So Doggy, there is today's lesson, money can't buy happiness.

[soupman]

Re: When I started barracking for the Dogs and Why.

I, like many on here I predict, was born into it.

My grandfather used to live out Footscray way and along with playing in the same side as a certain Whitten fella was soon a passionate Bulldogs man. As a result his three children were also raised as Bulldogs supporters, along with his wife who switched from Carlton after the fightback.

I was born in the late 80's and was never really given a chance to be anything else. I spent most of my first few years of attendance playing with toy cars on the steps at Whitten Oval or the highest seats I could find at the MCG, before moving interstate and returning when I was in year 5.

We lived in the South Eastern suburbs and I was very nearly sold on becoming an Essendon supporter by my mates until my Dad decided against it, but we were regular attendees at Princes Park and the MCG and my favourite player at the time was Simon Minton-Connel.

I went to pretty much every game I could that didn't conflict with my own footy and my favourite players became guys like Steven Kretiuk and Scott Wynd.

Then in the 2005 I hit the age where it really started to click, and I began taking an interest in the game beyond just the score, but the make up of the side, whether certain players were up to it etc.

I've since been constantly thinking about the club, am a social club member, am in the processing of converting a batch of friends to regular attendees and members (I find Essendon supporters are the most vulnerable), and go every week with my family who are all equally passionate supporters.

Being a Doggies supporter is surely one of the most frustrating activities you can undertake, but as my parents justify it, it is character building and when things do go right you do truly appreciate it. Hopefully I'll be able to see my future kids right a similiar post except amongst the benefits listed of supporting this great club there are a number of premierships.

[LostDoggy]

Re: When I started barracking for the Dogs and Why.

I was born in the West in Altona and born a bulldog, no choice in my family all immediate except 1 and she has been discarded and sent to the East! Grew up standing on the fence at the wo on the 50 line, three rows in front of my old man, had to be that far away, couldnt understand at the time how such a quiet person can turn so feral from the sound of a siren. But as I grew I'm told the apple didn't fall far from the tree! My first memory was when I was six and my old man arguing with the 50 hawthorn supporters that were all around us at the 85 final, haha laugh now when I think of it. Some great up and down memories and can't wait for the future! I've got three boys of my own now and sit back with much pride as they barrack hard. They love gettin to the footy. My favorite of all time was Leon Cameron wonderful kick either foot! Go Dogs!

[LostDoggy]

Re: When I started barracking for the Dogs and Why.

Oh and 1 more thing I'm a big believer in giving kid's choices. Follow the dogs or find another sport!

[LostDoggy]

Re: When I started barracking for the Dogs and Why.

Mum's side of the family were Footscray supporters, dad's were Essendon. I and my two brothers were all Essendon supporters from birth. My nan on mum's side offered me two bob to swap teams and become a Doggy. Two bob for a seven year old in 1972 was a fortune so here I am today. My early childhood was spent going to Windy Hill watching Essendon with my dad and brothers but I was always glued to the scoreboard waiting to see the around the ground scores. After the game dad "had" to go to the Brickmakers Arms to discuss the finer points of the days play and then it was home and I'd be in front of the Tele hoping the Dogs would feature on the replay. My brothers to this day stir me for taking the "cash" and remind me constantly of the four premierships I could have been a part of. Hey but who cares I'm a Doggy man.

Yes, I have posted my story on another thread but it seems a few of us have a similar story to tell. My Mum was born in Footscray,not far from the Whitten Oval, but my Dad barracked for Essendon. I have two brothers, both older, one barracked for Footscray and the other Essendon. I was Essendon until the age of 8, when the Footscray brother asked me if I wanted to go to the footy with him. I converted then (in the early 60's) and have been a doggie through and through since. I am constantly reminded about Essendon's premierships too! Agree, who cares, we are making our own history now!

[LostDoggy]

Re: When I started barracking for the Dogs and Why.

Oh and 1 more thing I'm a big believer in giving kid's choices. Follow the dogs or find another sport!

Such an even and balanced approach to life - I love it!

[Murphy'sLore]

Re: When I started barracking for the Dogs and Why.

"Year of the Dogs" was my way in, too. Prior to that I had no interest in football whatever and was even passionately anti! YOTD opened my eyes to the human drama behind the scenes and I began to appreciate the beauty of our blessed game for the first time.

How things have changed, my mum can't believe I'm the same person who used to bag footy... Mea culpa, mea culpa, I have seen the light and it's all thanks to the Bullies.

[LostDoggy]

Re: When I started barracking for the Dogs and Why.

Used to live about an hour north of Melbourne so wasn't easy getting to games all the time. With British heritage the Red,White and Blue was always going to be the one.

My father and i would make about 5 or 6 games a year. He grew up in North Sunshine so supporting the Bulldogs was a normal progression, although it was more about socialising with mates for him i suspect and "letting down the hair" from a busy week at work. He'd generally be there with 4 or 5 mates. One of his mates was actually a Geelong supporter but for locality and sanity's sake he'd go and yell his head off as therapy against his dominating Mrs

We'd drive the old HQ Belmont Ute down from the Macedon Ranges, listening to Tony Leonard choke on his saliva at another Digger whinge on the way down. We'd park in the old Sims car park...eventually. and walk down to the Western Oval, getting there at just before 3/4 time in the ressies usually.

Dad'd assume his spot at the top of the terrace row with his mates, just in front of the EJ Whitten stand signage and i'd wonder how i'd get onto the players race cyclone wire roof - as that was clearly the best viewing platform for a kid

I'd wonder around the ground from Barkley end to Geelong rd end, exploring, collecting cans with other kids and taking in the atmosphere of second hand smoke and old women knitting their crochet scarves, seemingly oblivious to the game on the ground. Exploring the dilapidated buildings, the toilets painting another coating of green over the other coat, that was on top of the other coat from 1967. Finding a doorway that looked abandoned, only to find a grey-haired old stalwart of the club, ushering me out and muttering expletives about "(so and so) young kids!".

I feel sorry for the post 80's born children to an extent. They'll never know what football used to be like before it became a pay through the nose, sit down shut up entertainment business.

[Bornadog]

Re: When I started barracking for the Dogs and Why.

My parents migrated to Australia in the early 50's and lived in West Footscray, around the corner from the ground (Wales st, off Geelong rd). My father and his mates enjoyed sport and because they lived around the corner from the ground, began following the dogs. These were of course successful years.

I was born in 1956 and by 1960 I was going to matches with the old man. We were living with my fathers cousin and finally my father bought a house in West Sunshine. We moved there when I was 4, but in 1961, my father was asked to run his cousins fish and chip shop in Barkely St, near Argle st, for about two years.

My father took me to all home matches and I loved it from that age. I even had a knitted jumper with the number 3 on the back as well as Ted Whitten footy boots.

[LostDoggy]

Re: When I started barracking for the Dogs and Why.

We lived in Braybrook when I was born and later in Williamstown (when poor people lived there !), on the strand mind you. All the family followed the dogs and I always thought it was the right thing to do, follow the local team. The family tradition continues 15 of us sit together at Etihad, if we don't see each other at other times we always see each other at the footy.

[LostDoggy]

Re: When I started barracking for the Dogs and Why.

My parents migrated to Australia in the early 50's and lived in West Footscray, around the corner from the ground (Wales st, off Geelong rd). My father and his mates enjoyed sport and because they lived around the corner from the ground, began following the dogs. These were of course successful years.

I was born in 1956 and by 1960 I was going to matches with the old man. We were living with my fathers cousin and finally my father bought a house in West Sunshine. We moved there when I was 4, but in 1961, my father was asked to run his cousins fish and chip shop in Barkely St, near Argle st, for about two years.

My father took me to all home matches and I loved it from that age. I even had a knitted jumper with the number 3 on the back as well as Ted Whitten footy boots.

Now here's a bit of trivia, Bornadog.

If that was the fish shop north of Argyle St, then it was originally owned by Stan Whitzell (Stan the fisherman) whose son Ray played for the Dogs