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For the passionate AFL fan, the start of a new season can mean many things. For teams who played finals the year before, it’s anticipation of another year of success with the chance of tasting the ultimate prize of a premiership.
Followers of the reigning premiers have had the whole summer to bask in their glory. For the friends and family of these supporters who don’t follow the same side, this has generally become very old by the time March comes around!
For sides which just missed the eight, there is some hope their team is on the way up, and that happier times are not far away.
But what of the supporter of the teams anchoring the bottom rungs on the ladder? The members of these clubs are as passionate as any other, and will undoubtedly support their teams through thick and thin.
However, when you are entering the season with most pundits suggesting your team will once again be one of the easy beats, the enthusiasm must start to wane.
Which is why a win like the Western Bulldogs had against the Brisbane Lions can feel like a finals win to the supporters. The atmosphere generated when your boys triumph when no-one thinks you can is electric.
The Lions are by no means an elite team, but they had good pre-season form, and were the overwhelming favourites in this match.
The Dogs had been average to poor in most lead up games, and were without their captain and best player, Matthew Boyd.
From very early on, it was clear the Dogs were switched on mentally, and once they sniffed a chance for a rare win, their confidence soared.
It shows just how close the competition is, and how important the mental aspect of the game can be.
The 68 point victory that eventuated would have been the furthest thing from any Bulldogs fan’s mind this morning. The joy they would have experienced today was amplified by the lengthy victory drought, having not won a game for points since Round 12 last year.
It will provide hope for the supporters of a side that was expected to have another year rebuilding and precious little to celebrate.
They may still finish as one of the also rans, but this win cannot be underestimated in the impact it can have on the season for the Bulldogs, both the players and the supporters.
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