The coronavirus pandemic meant fans and volunteers couldn't rally around their teams in 2020. And the pandemic has interrupted the 2021 season at times too. But when they can, the spectators are there in their droves, cheering their players on.

The Standard has met some of the Hampden and Warrnambool and District leagues' best characters this year as part of the Listen to the Fans video segment.

One of the best WDFNL moments this year was when the Panmure Recreation Reserve gate was named in Frank Ryan's honour.

It was on the same day the club celebrated 100 years since its first premiership.

"I think they might have went overboard a bit but it's good, it's to come back here and see all the people here I haven't seen in three years," Frank said that day.

"The most important thing in my life is people, people and families are the most important thing you've got."

Frank explained he joined the club's committee in 1967 and had been involved with the Bulldogs ever since.

He's had just about every role from trainer through to president. He was a long-time gate keeper.

Frank said going to the football and netball was a good outlet from life on the family farm only a few kilometres down the road.

He explained he had six sons who had played for the club.

Meanwhile, a special tent pitched close to the goals was the ideal social setting for North Warrnambool Eagles' ladies day in May.

Organisers Victoria Grundy and Tash Clark, who play netball for the club, wanted to give supporters a chance to be wined and dined, all while watching the Eagles' senior footballers upset Koroit at Bushfield.

"It is a bigger turnout than we planned for so we had to get a bigger marquee and move the location," Victoria said. "It's been great and it shows we can improve it and make it bigger for years to come."

Victoria said it was a way to honour the Eagles' hard-working volunteers.

"It is a way of saying thank you to the ladies who have done so much, showing the support for the club week in, week out, whether it's with tea (or other things)," she said.

Tash said a silent auction to raise money for breast cancer research was also part of the planning.

"That hits close to home for a few of us and it's touched a lot of our lives," she said. "We're trying to focus on that and next year will be bigger and better."

Merrivale has some great characters, none more passionate than Jock Shiells.

Jock was among mates at his usual spot by the Tigers' clubrooms for the Merrivale versus Allansford match in round seven.

"I've been here since I was a three-year-old, I'm 63 now," he said. "Played footy here, the old sheds and everything else, I can still remember them as a young fella.

"It's just been a good community hub for our family and my children and everyone else I've met along the journey."

Jock feels strongly that the football/netball club has an important role in the Merrivale community.

"I believe the school gives community heart and the footy club and cricket club and netball all keeps us close together," he said.

Eric Gilbert loves sitting in his car behind the goals at South Warrnambool home games.

The long-time Roosters supporter returned from Alice Springs 21 years ago and is a regular at Friendly Societies' Park.

"I enjoy sport and South are a very good club," he said. "They have high standards and the football skill level is always very, very good."

Eric has high hopes for the Roosters' 2021 premiership ambitions.

"We're looking forward to a good season and we're estimating we'll be playing in the grand final," he said to Listen to the fans in June.

"That is a lot of confidence but we've got the skill level.

"Our current coach (Mat Battistello) is very skilled and if you have the confidence of the players you're halfway there."

Eric used to love watching Shorty Anderson play and now takes an interest in how his son Paddy is travelling in the senior side.

The Thompson brothers' commitment doesn't go unnoticed either. "Of course this is where Jonathan Brown came from and some very good (AFL) league players and coaches," he said of the club's rich history.

Former Warrnambool player Neville Billington was on the sidelines when the Blues beat Terang Mortlake in a thrilling clash in May.

"It's always good to come back and see them play, especially the younger ones," he said.

"I coached the juniors for a couple of years so it's good to see a few of the ones I coached still playing and still playing some good footy."

Allansford's David Janes was courtside at the Cats versus Russells Creek A grade netball game in round 12. David had been watching his daughters, Sarah and Chloe, play in the Cats' B grade and under 17s teams.

He explained they had been involved with the NetSetGo netball starter program all the way through to their current grades.

He said his wife had also been a long-time junior netball coach.

David spoke highly of the club. "It's a great family club, we've been here since my kids were really little, there's great encouragement for the kids to go up to the seniors when they're still young - it's a great club to be around," he said.

Port Fairy has won just one of its first 10 games in season 2021.

Seagulls supporters Steve Sanders and Michael Schroeter were lucky enough to be at Gardens Oval for that win against Cobden.

"It's great the way they're bringing some of the kids along for a change," Michael said.

"It's fantastic, that is their future."

Michael said it was pleasing to see the club investing in youth.

"It is something to do on the Saturday and we like watching the kids and seeing how they go and how they improve all the time," he said.

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