At 93 years of age, Phyllis Johnston still knows all the words to the Western Bulldogs’ theme song, she still cheers her team on as she watches it on television and still has a nice collection of club gear.
So when the siren sounded at the MCG on Saturday afternoon, Phyllis was ecstatic over the Bulldogs’ premiership win.
The resident at Baptcare Wyndham Lodge Community started supporting Footscray when she was in school. She was among the crowd at the 1961 grand final – the last time the Bulldogs made it.
While she couldn’t make it this year, her son and grandson were there.
“Did I watch the game? Of course I did – I wouldn’t miss it,” she told Star Weekly.
“I would’ve been really disappointed if they had lost.”
Growing up, Phyllis, a former Yarraville resident, would regularly go to footy games.
“We would all walk up Williamstown Road to get to the game … there was a big group of us,” she said.
“Then when my kids were growing up, we’d take them. Now they take their kids.”
Having supported the team for decades, there’s one player that still sticks out in her mind.
“Teddy Whitten,” she said. “He has always been my favourite.”
