This was not how he had dreamed of spending an AFL grand final week, before his beloved Western Bulldogs’ ‘big dance’, but he knows it will be an experience.

Mr Neville is visiting his mother on New South Wales’ Central Coast. He arrived late on Sunday in his car with Bulldogs number plates, a Doggies’ scarf on his dash board and covered in club stickers.

The only other t-shirt he packed, besides a Bulldogs top, was a Melbourne Storm t-shirt – and Storm is facing Cronulla Sharks in this weekend’s NRL grand final.

“I can’t see open training on Tuesday afternoon and I’ll miss the grand final parade on Friday. I’m also in enemy territory,” Mr Neville said. “I’m certainly attracting attention...It will be an interesting experience”

The Ballarat Western Bulldogs Supporter Group president will drive back into Melbourne early Saturday morning in time to join the pack for the march from Federation Square to the MCG ahead of the final.

All going well, he is planning live crosses from the March to community radio program The Sporting Breakfast, where he dedicates a segment to Western Bulldogs each week. The VoiceFM show will also likely feature pre-recorded pieces from his pilgrimage home.

Already, the journey north has been emotional, particularly on a stop in Wangaratta to watch the Bulldogs’ preliminary final against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday night.

Mr Neville had called ahead to ensure Wangaratta RSL was showing the game live on big screen televisions and when he arrived there was the full support of everyone watching the game at the bar. Then reality sank in.

“I burst into tears. I couldn’t help it,” Mr Neville said. “I had been barracking all night but there was that moment on goal, when they kicked into Tory Dickson. There was 30 seconds on the clock and I thought, we’re playing next week in the AFL grand final. I just burst into tears, but scored two free beers from the bartender to celebrate.”

The Bulldogs are preparing for their third grand final in VFL/AFL history – the first they won in 1954, the last they lost to Hawthorn in 1961. It has been 55 years dreaming of another chance.

Bulldog Ray, as known on radio, said this was uncharted territory for his club, but it was exciting territory.