For Seymour brothers-in-law Kelvin Lubeck and Rob Brooks it marks the first time they will see their respective teams play off against each other in the decider — and all pleasantries between them will be put on hold as they hope to see their beloved team lift the cup.
Connected by Brooks’ wife Marlene, Lubeck has been a member of the Western Bulldogs for 35 years, while Brooks has been a Demons fan since 1966 and aligned to the club as a member for the past 25 years.
Two supporters who would give anything for their clubs, they have ridden the highs and lows of the passionate football fan and have enjoyed the incredible football the Dogs and Demons have put together in 2021.
Now returning to the big game for the first time since their famous 2016 triumph, Lubeck said it was a thrill to see the Bulldogs prevail over Port Adelaide in the preliminary final and stamp their ticket to the decider.
“Considering where we finished after being on top for most of the season before losing the last three games and missing the top four — so to play in three sudden-death finals and now be in the grand final, it is very similar to 2016,” Lubeck said.
“For me, watching on the TV isn’t that enjoyable because I get so anxious — but it is still fantastic to see them reach this point and I have confidence all along that we are the best side in it.”
Brooks said the Demons’ performance against Geelong to book their place in the grand final was simply incredible.
“It is just unbelievable, to be honest — I have never seen Melbourne have as dominant a season as they have this year, so that is a first and, hopefully, it carries through,” Brooks said.
“We have a terrific opponent in the Dogs, so it could go either way — but I am hoping the Demons can pull through and do it.”
Having been a loyal supporter of the Demons for more than 50 years, he explained some of the heartbreak he has had to endure through the competition's longest current premiership drought.
“I was at Waverley in 1987 when Jimmy Stynes ran across the mark, so you see that and your heart sort of sinks; I was there in the 1988 where we got smacked by Carlton and lived through the 2000 disappointment against Essendon,” Brooks said.
“I have certainly had a lot of heartache in following the Demons, but I am really hoping that it changes this year.”
Lubeck, on the the other hand, has ridden every bump with his beloved Dogs, attending every game he can in Victoria and interstate.
“The day I got my licence my boss said `you are either going to be a plumber or a footballer’, so that was the end of my playing days and ever since then I have been watching Footscray play every week,” he said.
“I am an extremely passionate supporter and before 2016 I virtually gave up on ever seeing them win a flag — seeing the way Luke Beveridge has changed that club has been incredible and has been the highlight of my journey as a Bulldogs supporter.”
Facing two weeks of build-up to the big game, Lubeck described the communications with his brother-in-law and their relationship when it comes to football.
“The rivalry isn’t as fierce as saying ‘I am not going to talk to you this week’, nothing like that, and the worst part of it for me is that if the Bulldogs don’t win I will be happy to see the Demons win the flag for Rob,” he said.
“I know what we went through in 2016 with the drought and the elation of breaking it — but in saying that though, they have won 12 flags and we have only won two, so us Doggies supporters have certainly been through our fair share as well.”
This is a sentiment shared by Brooks, who has a major soft spot for the Western Bulldogs.
“We have a little bit of a dig every now and then, but there is nothing sinister or aggressive about it — both our clubs have had struggling years, so we appreciate the battles and troubles we have gone through and there is a mutual respect there for each other's club,” he said.
“I am pretty disappointed it is the Dogs and Melbourne playing this weekend, I would prefer one or the other be in it, because I can barrack for each side passionately in their own right — but for now it is open slather and I’ll be hoping my Demons can get up.”
When it comes to the result of the game, however, Lubeck and Brooks are confident they will be coming away winners.
“I think Melbourne will win because they have had a dominant season — our backline is the best in the league, they have managed to get the forward line going and I think that balance will get us over the line by 15 points,” Brooks said.
“I think Bulldogs by about 13 points — our midfield is better than Melbourne’s and that will be the difference in the end,” Lubeck said.
