Anthony Beames has always been a collecting enthusiast, but it was the 2016 premiership win by his beloved Western Bulldogs that turned a passion into a verifiable obsession.
From a family of Hawthorn supporters, Mr Beames decided the Bulldogs were his team from an early age.
"I was a young fella, probably around 10 years old, and they were the team I chose.
They weren't very successful back then but it doesn't take much for a kid to like a footy team at that age.
"I think it was the colours and the fact that they were the underdogs.
"That's why it meant so much when we made it to the 2016 grand final."
The Bulldogs' 2016 grand final win ended a 62-year premiership drought for the team after a fairytale finals series that saw them rise from seventh on the ladder to premiership winners.
Watching the 2016 semi final match between the Bulldogs and Greater Western Sydney, Mr Beames said he was already booking tickets to grand final by the time the final buzzer sounded.
"It wasn't even a question," he said. "I wasn't missing out on it, I'd been supporting them for over 20 years."
Mr Beames describes the grand final win as one of the greatest days of his life and since then, his passion for collecting Western Bulldogs memorabilia has only grown stronger.
With a room dedicated to his collection, in under five years it has grown to include 46 guernseys and a number of 'match worn' boots (complete with confetti still stuck to the sole) safely displayed in glass cases.
However, the search for the next perfect piece for his collection is never ending and Mr Beames speaks regularly with other avid collectors.
"Chasing up leads and talking up to collectors- it's probably about two hours a day," he said.
Although disappointed that he is unable to attend the grand final match in Perth, Mr Beames is looking forward to barracking for his team from the home he shares with his partner Kaylah Foster.
With an entire room in their house dedicated to the Western Bulldogs, it would be reasonable to assume that Ms Foster was also a diehard fan of the red, blue and white.
"I don't support any of them [AFL teams]," she said.
"But I support him."
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Sarah Davison
Education reporter at The Examiner, with an additional focus on issues affecting the LGBTQIA+ community. With a background in Psychology, Sarah completed her Master's thesis on the Australian media's coverage of familicide. Get in touch: sarah.davison@examiner.com.au or 0448 682 861
Education reporter at The Examiner, with an additional focus on issues affecting the LGBTQIA+ community. With a background in Psychology, Sarah completed her Master's thesis on the Australian media's coverage of familicide. Get in touch: sarah.davison@examiner.com.au or 0448 682 861
