Kristen Hunter and husband Dale should be in Melbourne right now, preparing to cheers on their beloved Bulldogs who take on the Demons in Saturday's AFL grand final.
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The pair are life-long Western supporters and were at the big dance the last time the boys in red, white and blue made the grand final in 2016. which the Dogs won by 22 points. It marked the club's second VFL/AFL premiership victory and first since 1954, a side that Dale's father Alan Hunter was a part of.
But this year they will be denied that same opportunity to celebrate, as COVID has forced the game to be played in Western Australia, away from its spiritual MCG home.
"So COVID has stopped us from attending in person," Mrs Hunter said.
"We pay our membership every year and we pay the top dollar membership. That's just to make sure it guarantees us that if the opportunity does come. It has this year but unfortunately we couldn't use our membership tickets."
But with lockdown restrictions easing in Orange this week, the Hunters will at least be able to cheer on their club surrounded by some friends and family at home.
"It would mean the world to us," Mrs Hunter said on how she would feel to get the win on Saturday.
"Bulldogs being the underdogs all the time has gone through all the channels and travelled all across Australia to get to the big game.
"We absolutely just love the Bulldogs. We live and breath it. We support them every week and to know that they can get another premiership on their belt would mean everything to us."
Both her and her husband moved to the city from Broken Hill 12 years ago and immediately joined local Aussie Rules club Orange Tigers.
"They're an amazing club and very family oriented," Mrs Hunter added.
"As time's gone on, AFL is becoming more popular because it's very athletic and we're starting to see a lot of the younger children and girls really develop in the region."
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