The 74-year-old was among the thousands of Western Bulldogs supporters who let out a roar when they won a spot in this weekend’s grand final, breaking a 55-year hoodoo and inching them closer to ending a 61-year premiership drought.

Mr Fawcett was there in 1954 when the Doggies won their one and only premiership.

“I was 12,” he recalled.

“I lived in Sunshine and I got the first train from Sunshine – at five in the morning – and joined the queue (at the MCG).

“There was already quite a few thousand people there lined up at 5.30am.

“I remember it all. Charlie Sutton, Teddy Whitten – they were great. When we were going to win in the last quarter, the old man next to me started to cry.”

Mr Fawcett might be that man this year if he can get a ticket to the game – every long-suffering Footscray fan could be forgiven for shedding a tear should their team overcome Sydney on Saturday.

Not only have the Western Bulldogs failed to make a grand final for 55 years, they had also lost their last seven preliminary finals prior to Saturday’s win.

“I screamed when Tory Dickson had the ball at the end and I knew we couldn’t lose,” he said of the weekend’s game.

Mr Fawcett said it had been a rough ride for Bulldogs fans.

“1997 was the worst,” he said, referring to the Dogs two-point preliminary final loss to eventual premiers Adelaide.

“We should never have lost that one and we were the best side all year.

“That was heartbreaking. I’m sure we would have beaten St Kilda the next week.”

Mr Fawcett said this year’s team had done an amazing job to make the grand final.

“What they’ve done is unreal with all the injuries they’ve had,” he said.

“There’s five or six out now who could have made the team – it’s incredible. I feel for Bob Murphy.”

Mr Fawcett’s parents barracked for the Bulldogs and his own children and grandchildren have also followed in his footsteps.

“My father barracked for them and should have played for them,” he said.

“They chased him and chased him. But he ended up playing lacrosse instead for Victoria.”