Dreams come true for Western Bulldogs fans as premiership celebrations continue at Whitten Oval

PICTURES: AFTER a long wait for the club’s second flag, thousands of fans flocked to the Western Bulldogs’ spiritual home to celebrate their drought-breaking win.

Bulldogs fans pack Whitten Oval to cheer on their heroes. Picture: Eugene Hyland

GROWING up just down the road from Whitten Oval in Tottenham, it’s a moment passionate Western Bulldogs supporter Wayne McKnight says “means everything”.

A member for more than 25 years, the 70-year-old was among the tens of thousands of fans who on Sunday flocked to the Bulldogs’ spiritual home in the west to celebrate the club’s drought-breaking premiership win.

Supporters formed a long queue snaking around Whitten Oval waiting to get into the ground to continue the premiership party and see their flag heroes on stage.

McKnight was among the lucky ones at the Grand Final on Saturday “right up the back of the Olympic Stand”. But he didn’t care.

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After such a long wait, he was just happy to be there and experience the emotions of the club’s first premiership in 62 years - including plenty of tears.

“It means everything to Bulldogs supporters, it’s a dream come true,’’ McKnight said as he and thousands of fans swarmed into the Whitten Oval.

Easton Wood and Bob Murphy raise the premiership cup in front of thousands of Bulldogs fans at Whitten Oval. Picture: Michael Klein

Three generations of Bulldogs, sisters Willow and Elana with dad Adam and grandad Tony. Picture: Eugene Hyland

“I was eight in ‘54 and never went to the game, although my parents just lived down the road in Tottenham.

“Three minutes before the game finished we knew we had it in the bag and you really can’t release it until that siren goes.

“Then when Bevo (Luke Beveridge) handed his premiership medal over to (Bob) Murphy, the tears were just flowing.’’

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Rick Carrington, 61, was born in Footscray just months after the Bulldogs’ last premiership win, but he feared he may never get to see the club win another flag.

He was lost for words when it finally happened.

“I’m on cloud nine, it’s just so special. I wondered if it would ever happen,’’ Carrington said.

“I was born four months after the ‘54 flag, my mother was there and I wondered if it was ever going to happen after I was born.

An emotional president Peter Gordon. Picture: Michael Klein

Six-year-old Hugh watches proceedings with his dad Shane. Picture: Eugene Hyland

A sea of red, white and blue on the Whitten Oval turf. Picture: Getty Images

“But it has now. I couldn’t speak. I just thought, ‘We’ve done it’. Shit I was thinking it may never happen. It’s still sinking in. I just love the club.’’

Philip O’Connor, who turned 63 on Saturday, said it was the ultimate birthday present to receive after suffering a heart attack last year.

It was a day he also never thought he would see.

“At the start of the year I said to my mates ‘I’ll be dead and buried by the time they win the flag’,” he said yesterday.

“That fella upstairs must have known that we were going to win. It was just a dream come true.

“This will do a lot of things for the western suburbs.”

Sharon Rogers described coach Luke Beveridge – dubbed “The Dogfather” this finals series – as “our lord, our saviour and our God”.

Bulldogs fans form a massive queue as they wait to get inside Whitten Oval. Picture: Getty Images

Sheryl Carey and mum Laurel Russell at Whitten Oval. Picture: Eugene Hyland

“I have no words for it – it was something that I never ever thought would happen or certainly would happen in my lifetime. I pinched myself (on Sunday morning) and said ‘it really happened’,” she said.

“It’s not going to sink in for a little while. We’re the reigning premiers – words I never thought I’d utter.”

It was a long journey to take in the Grand Final for young Dogs fan Mitchell, who travelled with brother Lachlan and mum Melissa from Adelaide, watching the game with his Footscray-faithful grandmother.

“The last time they played and won was when she was four years old,” he said.

“She was really happy and I was crying because they won.”