World Footy News

The Western Bulldogs today launched the Western Front, the Bulldogs’ new membership campaign calling on Members and Fans to get behind the Red, White and Blue in 2012 and beyond.

Today’s launch, held at the iconic Sun Theatre in Yarraville, was centred around the release of an innovative short film that captures the emerging story of the West and its Team.

Western Bulldogs Chief Executive, Simon Garlick said that the film, which featured a specially created soundtrack by Mark Seymour and narration by Luke Darcy, captured the essence of the Bulldogs while also celebrating the changing face of the West.

“As we head into next year we are calling on all of our Members and Fans to be a part of the Western Front as we strive to ‘Win the West’ and tackle our competitors head on.

“This campaign also unapologetically places a stake in the ground and sends a strong message to our competitors that the West of Melbourne is Bulldog territory.

“Our Club’s fortunes and identity are intrinsically linked to the Western Suburbs.

“These links are not a fluke or manufactured for picture opportunities - our relationship with the West is real and reflects a commitment to support the community that supports us,” Garlick said.

The Western Bulldogs have put in place a five year plan that is aimed at capitalising on the massive growth currently taking place on the Western edge.

20,000 new residents are expected to move into Melbourne’s West every year for the next two decades bringing with them opportunity the likes of which this State, this Club and critically this game have never seen before – and are likely to see again.

“As a wave of growth rolls across Melbourne’s West our ambition is to ride it and in the process become a financially independent and on-field powerhouse that is respected by our stakeholders, our partners, and of course, our competitors,” Garlick said.

The numbers already back up the fact that the West of Melbourne is well and truly the Bulldogs backyard.

· 45 of the top 50 Bulldogs Membership suburbs in 2011 were based in Melbourne’s West.

· 56 schools and 4,500 children in the West participate in our Bulldogs Friendly School program.

· 23 per cent of the kids registered for Auskick in the West barrack for the Bulldogs making the Club the most supported team in the region.

· 40,000 multicultural groups or individuals have been engaged through our community engagement programs since 2005.

“We look forward to working with our commercial and community partners to write this new chapter in our proud, Bulldog history,” Garlick concluded.