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AFL grand final 2016: Western Bulldogs celebrate with fan day at Whitten Oval

PICK UP YOUR SOUVENIR EDITION OF THE SUNDAY AGE - jam-packed with Bulldogs coverage, including posters, special artwork, fan interviews and expert analysis from Caroline Wilson, Greg Baum, Emma Quayle and Rohan Connolly.

Western Bulldogs
Back-to-back? Easton Wood and Robert Murphy present the cup to the adoring fans. Photo: Darrian Traynor

Whitten Oval drama

A woman in her 50s collapsed at Whitten Oval due to a medical condition and had to be taken to hospital by ambulance earlier on Sunday.

Paramedics rushed her to Footscray Hospital, where the woman was in a stable condition, according to an Ambulance Victoria spokesman.

This followed an incident at the MCG on Saturday where a Western Bulldogs fan went into cardiac arrest at the final siren and was taken to hospital

Just a little bit funny

Great times for past players

Bulldogs legend Doug Hawkins took to the stage on Sunday, not to speak but just to revel in the glory of it all. Wiping away tears, Hawkins took a selfie in front of the crowd, capturing a moment he thought may never come.

 

Transport update

A tree fell onto overhead wires along the Sunbury rail line, throwing transport services from Whitten Oval into chaos.

Services on the line have been suspended between North Melbourne and Albion stations, which includes West Footscray station, where crowds gathered to celebrate. 

Metro said a replacement bus service was in operation. It also recommended revellers consider using the route 216 bus between Albion and North Melbourne. 

The tree fell between Sunshine and Tottenham stations, a short distance west of Whitten Oval.   
 

President Peter Gordon

Bulldog president Peter Gordon addressed the crowd urging them to look after each other, admitting the club wasn't accustomed to hosting such massive crowds."Let's just take it easy today," AAP reported him as saying. "We've got a problem here that we've never had before. It's a problem of our own making because we happened to win a premiership."

Gordon, the man who famously reached into his own pockets to pull the Bulldogs back from the brink in the late 1980s, looked like he'd celebrated as hard as the players. But he managed to find the words to thank the Bulldogs faithful, recalling what he told Beveridge during their embrace after their preliminary final over Greater Western Sydney.

"I said 'you've just got us into our first grand final since 1961 - you are frigging amazing'," Gordon said. "That man just led us to our first premiership in 62 years and he's contracted to us for the next five years at least."

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The Norm Smith Medal

Who else thinks Tom Boyd was best on ground?

 

Poll

Update on the transport hassles

A touching moment

Is this just two blokes hanging out on a Sunday after a big night the day before? The story of Luke Beveridge giving up his premiership medallion for injured Bulldogs skipper Bob Murphy is bound to be recalled for years to come. This photo shows there's a special bond between the pair.

Luke Beveridge and Bob Murphy.
Luke Beveridge and Bob Murphy. Photo: Damian Traynor

The crowd at Whitten Oval is now estimated to be more than 20,000. It's a diverse group, too. From toddlers in strollers to supporters aged in their 80s. The weather is delightful, albeit a bit too windy for the windswept location. We're hearing countless renditions of the club song. Fans in cars are also driving past and yelling out 'Go Dogs'. 

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Bulldogs presented to the fans

That winning feeling ...

The Western Bulldogs players take to the stage.
The Western Bulldogs players take to the stage. Photo: Michael Gleeson

The Norm Smith Medal

Here's your chance to have your say

Poll

Now that's love for your club.

Tribute to Bulldogs player Marcus Bontempelli.
Tribute to Bulldogs player Marcus Bontempelli. Photo: Darrian Traynor
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For a premiership that came by surprise, there is an element of disbelief among the thousands of Bulldogs fans who have converged on Whitten Oval today.

They seem to be pinching themselves: 'did we actually win the flag? Really??'

The team of the mighty west: Bulldogs fans celebrate at Whitten Oval.
The team of the mighty west: Bulldogs fans celebrate at Whitten Oval. Photo: Darrian Traynor

Someone in the crowd at Whitten Oval has collapsed. Medics are attending.

It seems not all Doggies fans are at Whitten Oval today. Some extremely happy fans, sporting Bulldogs jumpers, have been spotted singing the song on Spencer St.

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