Susan Alberti has long been devoted to the Western Bulldogs and women’s football but her most recent benevolent gesture shows her support of women’s sport extends further than AFL.

Sending a $12,000 cheque to a relative stranger is a generous offer in anyone’s language but the Western Bulldogs Vice-President felt compelled to act when reading of talented Canberra sprinter Melissa Breen’s plight.

Last Sunday Breen broke triple Olympian Melinda Gainsford-Taylor's long-standing women's 100m Australian record in Canberra, subsequently sparking discussion of why the 23 year-old sprinter was not the recipient of financial support from the sports governing body Athletics Australia.

London Olympian Breen's time of  11.11 seconds shaved 0.01 seconds off Gainsford-Taylor's 20 year-old mark, and saw her also usurp the career bests of Australian athletics icons Cathy Freeman and Raelene Boyle. 

The Western Bulldogs’ Vice President instinctively backed the young Australian athlete, and urged others to do the same.

''I'll get her started off on the $12,000. I'd be happy to put it in her hand immediately, hoping that others will follow suit and see the potential in this young woman,” Alberti told The Age.

Breen told The Age she was appreciative of Alberti’s generosity but what struck a chord was the faith and confidence that Alberti had shown in her talents through the gesture.

''It is so overwhelming that someone I have never met would be prepared to do that. I am in shock,” Breen said.

''It will be an incredible help, just in day-to-day life paying for physio or pilates sessions that come out of my pocket and to help pay for my coach Matt Beckenham who is working so hard to get me to the level.

''Obviously the money is wonderful, but it is the belief in me she has shown by making this sort of gesture that is so overwhelming for me.''