Western Bulldogs mascot Sid the Bulldog retires on premiership high

AGEING AFL players dream of going out on a premiership note. That’s a reality for Western Bulldogs mascot Sid The Bulldog, who has been retired.

Western Bulldogs open training session and family day at Whitten Oval. Isaac Stafford, 2, meets Sid the mascot. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

WESTERN Bulldogs premiership good luck charm Sid the Bulldog has retired from the game.

A constant at Doggies’ home games over the past seven years, the club mascot’s openers, Jerome and Emma Murnane have decided the 9-year-old British bulldog deserves a rest.

And hasn’t he gone out on a high, with his last game the Dogs stunning grand final win over Sydney last season?

Enjoying retirement

— Sid The Bulldog (@Sid_WB_Mascot) March 31, 2017

“We were thinking about retiring him at end of last season,” Mr Murlane said.

“He’s nine years old now and we just noticed last year his eyesight started to get a bit poor.

“He’s a British bulldog and they’re average age is about 10.

“We contacted the club three weeks ago, and let them know this is what we’re doing, to give the club an opportunity to look for another mascot.”

Sid was famously embroiled in a pre-grand final furore last year when the Dogs decided he would not be able to attend the match.

Jerome Murnane and Sid before last year’s grand final victory. Picture: David Crosling

People power spoke and the mascot would be there for the historic win.

As popular as any player at the kennel, Sid is specially trained to handle the rigours of being a mascot for an premiership season and Mr Murnane said it would take a “special” dog to replace him.

“He’s never lifted his leg on the ground ever in seven years and, with what he deals with, with the kids pawing at him,” he said.

LOOKING FOR LOVE: SID THE BULLDOG GOES TO TINDER STUD

Mr Murnane said Sid missed the flag unveiling against Sydney on Friday night because he didn’t want to detract from the event, but he was hopeful of a farewell later in the season.

“We left it up to the club whether it would have an official goodbye,” he said.

“Either way, it doesn’t really worry us, because the Dogs have been so busy.

“We left on good terms with the club.”

The Murnane’s have ferried Sid to home games on a voluntary basis, and Mr Murnane said it had given his children Arliyah, 9, and Joel, 12, a special opportunity.

“The kids have grown up with it, it’s been a great opportunity and I don’t think our kids realise,” he said.

Both attend the home games and Arliyah is really involved with the cheer squad and going onto the ground. She sits there and she holds his lead on the boundary line.”

A trio of premiership Bulldogs. Picture: Michael Klein