By Alesha Capone
Hoppers Crossing four-year-old Charlotte is a passionate Western Bulldogs supporter, although she particularly adores her favourite player Tom ‘Libba’ Liberatore.
Charlotte’s mother Emma Clayton said their entire family, including her older daughter Madilyn, 13, are all Doggies fans.
However, Ms Clayton said it remains a mystery as to how Charlotte developed her “Libba obsession”.
Charlotte likes telling her father Nathan to grow “a Libba” – a moustache like the one sported by Liberatore.
“She knows Libba’s number is 21 and she just loves him,” Ms Clayton said.
“If she met him, I reckon she would be starstuck and not know what to say.”
Ms Clayton said that last week, Charlotte lined up her toys and was teaching them all about how to organise the grand-final, complete with a whiteboard.
She also proudly wears her Bulldogs scarf to kindergarten and daycare.
Ms Clayton was actually pregnant with Charlotte at the time of the 2016 grand final.
Their family also attended some Bulldogs cames earlier this year, while not in lockdown.
They have decorated their lounge room with Bulldogs merchandise ahead of this year’s grand final.
Ms Clayton said that when she was growing up, her grandfather, whom she calls Papa, supported the Bulldogs.
She and her father barrack for the Bulldogs, while her mother and sister are Collingwood devotees.
“Dad took us to Whitten Oval, he used to take us to the footy when we were little,” Ms Clayton said.
