MARGARET Wilson only had one word to describe the coach who led the club she has supported for more than 40 years to drought-breaking success - a gentleman.
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The 85-year-old was talking about Western Bulldogs premiership coach Luke Beveridge, who she met at a luncheon the club held at Lady Bay Resort during the club's community camp visit to Warrnambool on Monday.
"I hadn't met him before but he was very nice and a gentlemen," Mrs Wilson said of Beveridge.
"They (the Western Bulldogs) through (AFL Western District Development Manager) Alan Thompson and (her son) Shane invited me to the luncheon.
"He (Beveridge) asked me a few questions like how long I had been supporting the club and how often I go to games and my favourite players and it was in front of all the players."
The club also gave a shoutout to the mother-of-two on the club's social media accounts.
"She’s been a member since 1940. An ex-West Footscray local who travels down from Warrnambool to attend every home game. People like Margaret are the heartbeat of our great club," the post said.
Only one of Mrs Wilson's favourite Bulldogs were in attendance. The Warrnambool resident admires south-west export Liam Picken and tough defender Dale Morris.
"I love their resilience and how they have stayed to play.at one club and they were also an important part in the premiership too," Mrs Wilson said of her favourite Bulldogs.
But because Picken is still recovering from a concussion he received in last year's JLT match against Hawthorn he did not travel to Warrnambool for the camp.
Mrs Wilson, who grew up not far from the Bulldogs' home at Whitten Oval, has been a long-time supporter of the club.
She has attended the Bulldogs' only three grand finals - including the 1954 and 2016 victories.
The extended Wilson family - including her husband Bill, two children Shane and Mark and their children - all support the Western Bulldogs.
Mrs Wilson said she hoped her tradition of attending all the club's home games would continue. She also had high hopes for the club's Next Generation Academy, which is based in western Victoria, to unearth some future stars for the club.
"It's a great thing for the area to have and if they could pick up some juniors from here that would be nice too," Mrs Wilson said.
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
