“THAT’S my mate Jack,” William Robinson exclaims each time he watches midfielder Jack Macrae boot the goal to put Western Bulldogs in front in the dying stages of Saturday night’s AFL preliminary final. Will watches the moment on replay.
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The Courier first met six-year-old Will last month when he made the big decision to turn from an Essendon fan to a Western Bulldogs’ devotee – all because Macrae was nice to him at an Auskick clinic.
Will, who has autism and an intellectual disability, has since packed up his Essendon jumper neatly in the corner of his room and has confirmed he was definitely Bulldog through and through now.
His mum Karen Robinson managed to hunt down a Bulldogs jumper, beanie and flag as merchandise is all but sold out across town.
Karen said her son did not fully understand what a grand final was yet, but he knew there was a big game coming up.
When The Courier visited this week, Will showed how he already has the game statistics page open on his iPad for this week.
And how did he feel about Ballarat turning red, white and blue this week?
“Great. Go Doggies,” Will said. He also hoped to have balloon in his house soon and Macrae’s number on his jumper.
Will’s dad Trent Robinson is a life-long Essendon supporter. Karen is a Hawk. But they admit to having a soft spot for the Bulldogs.
“At the end of the day, as long as Will’s happy, we’re happy,” Karen said. “And as long as it’s not Collingwood or Carlton.”
His parents agree Macrae must have made quite the impact on Will, who insisted he only get Macrae’s autograph on his Essendon jumper at a special Auskick clinic. Macrae had taken the time to chat with Will after a goal kicking skills station.
Will now beams every time you mention the Bulldogs and especially Jack Macrae.