It took less than 24 hours for Brenton Holdsworth to have a permanent reminder of his beloved Bulldogs' 2016 premiership win inked on his left leg.
When the final siren sounded on Saturday afternoon, the social worker called his cousin, who had been watching at the Braybrook Hotel, to take in the momentous win.
More Sport Videos
- Video duration
- 02:55
Plays of the 2016 AFL grand final
- Video duration
- 01:42
Jimmy Bartel's beard is gone
- Video duration
- 01:53
Bulldogs party on Mad Monday
- Video duration
- 03:39
AFL trade period explained
- Video duration
- 01:20
Bulldogs fans stream into Whitten Oval to celebrate win
- Video duration
- 02:10
Bulldogs fans rejoice as drought broken
- Video duration
- 01:29
Bulldogs break 62-year Premiership drought
Plays of the 2016 AFL grand final
Wood makes his opposite number earn it, Picken gets the Doggies out to a handy lead, Swan Kennedy drags his side back into the contest, Morris tackles before Boyd finishes as a 62-year premiership drought ends.
The pair exchanged few words as they fought to hold back tears.
"We have stuck by this side all the way through;Â that's what loyalty is," Mr Holdsworth said. "I rang him, and we were just crying."
Hours later, he decided to have a victorious-looking bulldog tattooed on the little bare skin he has left.
"What better way to commemorate such a win?" said the 30-year-old, who has tattoos covering almost 80 per cent of his body.
Unbeknown to Mr Holdsworth, in the days leading up to the grand final, Western Bulldogs vice-president Susan Alberti promised to get her ankle tattooed if the Doggies were able to walk away victorious on Saturday and end the club's 62-year premiership drought.Â
Come Sunday she had changed her mind, telling ABC 774 she would have her arm inked instead of an ankle.
"My dad had one on his arm. When he came out of the war he got this slouch hat on his arm.
"But the only problem is you shrivel up when you get older. It did happen with Dad," Ms Alberti said.
Footscray tattooist Michael Baker began drawing up designs on Saturday afternoon when the Bulldogs began looking like a sure bet.
"I had them ready to go on Saturday afternoon, and I've already got a few people wanting to come in during the week," he said.
Another Footscray tattoo artist, Clare Keton, said she had fielded "loads of inquiries" from people wanting Western Bulldogs tattoos.
"Many of those calls were made on Saturday night, so let's see if they're still keen come Monday," she said with a laugh.