Tara Murray
Western United players traded the soccer ball for a football last week.
The playing group changed things up at training to show their support for fellow western suburbs side, the Western Bulldogs ahead of this week’s AFL grand final.
Italian star Alessandro Diamanti showed he had the tricks now matter what shape the ball, including a dribbling kick from the boundary which found the back of the goals.
United NPL player Ben Collins has been a Bulldogs supporter his whole life.
He said United, like the Bulldogs, gives people of the western suburbs a team to call their own.
“Growing up, we would always go to games together as a family, and although there have been some pretty dark times as Bulldogs supporters, the last half-dozen years have been pretty exciting.
“The pinnacle was going to see the Dogs win the 2016 grand final, which has satisfied my dad’s dream of seeing a premiership in his lifetime.”
Collins said the two club’s had a good partnership, with United playing a home game at Whitten Oval during the 2019-20 season.
Ajak Deu is another Bulldogs supporter after going on school excursions to the club when he first came to Australia.
Collins wished the Bulldogs luck ahead of the big game.
“Hopefully, they can add a third premiership next week in the Grand Final, Go Dogs!”
