A couple of weeks ago, three generations of the Hoy family went to see the Western Bulldogs take on the West Coast Eagles.

The tickets had come as part of an incentive to take part in the Sons of the West preseason program, and it was the first time the three of them had ever gone to see a game of football together.

But for Michael Hoy, taking part in the Sons of the West program has always been about much more than free tickets.  Hoy was one of the original participants, having joined up in 2014 on the back of a testicular cancer scare and having put on a lot of weight.

Speaking to westernbulldogs.com.au at the time, Hoy said his family were ‘really proud’ that he had decided to do something about his health.

Two years later, he is cancer-free and one of the ‘red shirts’.  Hoy and his fellow original participants were presented with red SOTW shirts to symbolise their commitment and their leadership, and he said he couldn’t be prouder to wear it.

“The red shirt means a lot to me and I'm very proud to wear it to the weekly information sessions and the fitness classes," he said.

“I feel a better 'me' when I wear the Sons of the West shirt, kind of like the players feel wearing the jumper I guess.

“The red shirt is a visual that I - and the others wearing it - were the originals, and are back because we enjoy it and benefit from it.

“We're a face that new guys can come to ask what the program is about, what we've learnt, etc.”

He still dusts off the orginal white tee every now and then, esepcialy when he is umpiring his daughters’ Wyndhamvale Youth Girls footy team. 

“We usually wear a white bib for the role but the team manager said I could wear the shirt as is given it's white," he said.

While Michael himself has lost weight and is now cancer free, his next goal is even bigger -  signing up his Dad up for 2017.