When the 2016 premiership flag is unfurled at Etihad Stadium on Friday, 31 March, some iconic Bulldogs will be on hand to mark the occasion.
Today’s ICON profile: Chelsea Heath
___________________
Chelsea Heath wouldn't have any recollection of the first Western Bulldogs match she attended but it is a game which sits high on the list of favourite memories for many long-standing Bulldogs fans.
The match saw Footscray hosting Collingwood at Whitten Oval in June 1984, Mick Malthouse's first year as coach.
At half time the Dogs trailed by nearly five goals and although they mounted a second-half comeback, it appeared they would be unable to bridge the gap, still a point behind with only seconds remaining.
Then, in a moment of madness, Magpie Graeme 'Gubby' Allan - probably Collingwood's best player all day until that time - inexplicably sent a kick from the back pocket across the face of goal. The attempted pass to a teammate was intercepted by Bulldog full forward Simon Beasley, who calmly slotted a goal.
Moments later the siren sounded, the Dogs victorious by five points, and Whitten Oval erupted.
Chelsea Heath was there with her dad as a one-year-old, and had she been old enough to understand that momentous occasion and needed any persuasion to jump on the Bulldogs bandwagon, that win would surely have provided it.
In truth, though, Heath was born to love the red, white and blue regardless, her father and nearly every other member of her extended family Bulldogs through and through.
Heath has fond memories of her childhood Saturday afternoon at Whitten Oval, standing on a milk crate so she could glimpse her favourite players in action.
When she was 16, in 1999, a particular favourite player led to her join the Bulldogs cheer squad. That player was Nathan Brown, and as he approached his 50th match for the club, Heath decided that she wanted to be on the ground for that auspicious milestone.
She got her wish, and has been a member of the Western Bulldogs cheer squad ever since.
Heath has been there for many important moments since her first match back in 1984.
"I saw Dougie (Doug Hawkins) break Ted Whitten’s games record for the club and EJ’s lap of honour before the State of Origin match at the MCG in 1995 and the Bulldogs winning the NAB Cup a few years ago,” she told the Star Weekly newspaper.
And Heath, awarded life membership of the Western Bulldogs in 2012 for her dedicated hard work with the cheer squad, was of course there at the MCG for grand final day last October.
For Heath, though, a premiership is just one of many rewards for the years of voluntary work - often more than 15 hours a week in season - she and other cheer squad members have devoted to the Bulldogs.
Perhaps the greatest reward is the friendships she has forged through the cheer squad.
"I’ve met some of my best friends through footy — it means so much to so many people.
‘‘We’re like a family. We cheer together, commiserate together and at times we might argue with one another, but once the final siren sounds, it’s all forgotten.
‘‘I can’t imagine life without footy.’’
