Injured skipper Bob Murphy leads the Doggies out for training. Credit:Darrian Traynor Some diehard fans arrived as early as 6am. Thursday's open training session was the last opportunity for many who have missed out on grand final tickets to see their heroes in the flesh. The Bulldogs kept their devotees waiting. Chants of "Bulldogs! Bulldogs!" erupted in the jubilant crowd. After a 24-minute wait, the Bulldogs – led by injured skipper Bob Murphy – ran out to be greeted by the biggest crowd they had ever seen at a training session.

Ron Scott with his granddaughter Chloe Bernard at Whitten Oval. Credit:Marissa Calligeros

While most of the Bulldogs squad were put through their paces, Matt Suckling and Dale Morris were restricted to walking laps and light duties. Suckling sat out last week's preliminary final because of an Achilles complaint, while Morris reportedly suffered an unspecified injury scare this week and had a test on Wednesday. Western Bulldogs fans loud and proud at Whitten Oval. Credit:Justin McManus Ron Scott, 73, was among those watching from the fence line. He was there in 1954 when the Bulldogs – then Footscray – won their first (and so far only) premiership. He was in the Melbourne Members' stand with his mother. The stand no longer exists, but Mr Scott still has the memories. "I was the only one celebrating in that stand that day," he said. "It was a bit scary."

Raising the woof: Bulldog Candy, with owners Shane, Lilly and Lorraine Blythe, at Whitten Oval. Credit:Justin McManus Mr Scott was also at the grand final in 1961, when the Bulldogs lost to Hawthorn. "We got belted that day," he recalled. But this year he's quietly confident the Doggies will win, "even if it's only by one point". Kiara Millici with her cocky Charlie. Credit:Justin McManus On Thursday, Mr Scott was joined by his 15-year-old granddaughter, Chloe Bernard, at the oval. They hope to win last-minute tickets to the grand final because, like many supporters, they missed out on the ballot. About 1800 Bulldogs are eligible for last-minute tickets to the big game, with the Swans forfeiting 200 member passes not used in the ballot.

"I've sent hundreds of emails to Channel 7 for their competition," Ms Bernard said. "I sent 200 emails until it blocked me, and then last night I sent another 200 emails until it blocked me again. It's a shame there aren't more tickets for true supporters." Swans fan Ginger Stephens, braving it among the Doggies faithful. Credit:Marissa Calligeros But with the Doggies on a high and the familiar smell of hot chips and tomato sauce wafting through the stands, it was all smiles at Whitten Oval on Thursday. There was a certain romance about the sweet day for the team that all of Victoria seems to be embracing as their own. "Great day!" one man said in passing to another. "Mate, it's a great day for everything," he replied.

Harper Slowpack, who turns three next week, was decked out in club colours. Her favourite player is Marcus Bontempelli. "Because he wears a headband like mine," she said. Ginger Stephens stood out amid a sea of Bulldogs supporters.

The 12-year-old from Sydney was sporting her Swans scarf at the Whitten Oval training session. "People have given me weird looks, but no one has said anything," she said. "I wanted to show that there are Swans supporters around here and that the game is on." Bulldogs fan Lidia Gavan, 74, has no argument there. She witnessed the Bulldogs' last premiership in 1954. "I was 12. I remember I had to walk home, because my parents didn't drive me anywhere, so I had to make my own way home," she said. "To be honest, I thought they would have done it again before now. "You know, I'm getting a bit long in the tooth."

But Ms Gavan will be at the MCG with her son Paul on Saturday to help make the Doggies dream come true. Such is Michael Lanyon's passion for his team, he bought two bulldogs of his own – the four-legged variety. His three-year-old British bulldogs, Chopper and Darcy, were in team jumpers, attracting plenty of attention. Michael Lanyon with Chopper and Darcy, and Bulldogs fans Anastasia and Christopher Gal.

"We had the jumpers made in Bali," he said. "I'm a mad keen football supporter and mad keen about the Bulldogs. "We're a people's club, a working class club. You know, we've certainly never had the cash injections that other clubs have had. Irene Chatfield [the woman known as the Bulldogs' saviour and a supporter of 60 years] mortgaged her own house." Tears welled in Kathy Stipic's eyes when she spoke about her club's chance at the premiership. "I'm so excited I could just cry. We can't sleep." she said. "This club is about the people, the emotion. We've been here with the tins in the dark days. The supporters here don't leave [matches] even when we're getting thrashed.

Loading "It's the heart of the west." Mr Lanyon agreed: "Red, white and blue runs through your veins."