WATCHING his beloved Western Bulldogs tenacity in hunting an elusive AFL premiership this year has given Trevor Baldock a renewed determination.
One week on, Trevor is still glowing from their epic win and planning to buy a full membership to make sure he follows their whole journey attempt to go back-to-back.
Trevor has bone cancer, which has created an inoperable tumour in his chest. Diagnosed last Christmas, Trevor was told to celebrate Christmas early this year. His family has organised two Christmas dinners by early December.
His journey is about little goals: Christmases, his birthday in early February, then week-by-week through the football season.
“I didn’t think I’d ever see a (Bulldogs) premiership happen in my lifetime and to see a bunch of blokes fight so hard,” Trevor said. “...I’m that thrilled about the win, I want to see another. It really has inspired me.”
The Ararat-based former jockey has moved to Ballarat to live with his sister Leanne and be closer to treatment. Trevor also said the first time, in a long time, he was closer to the Bulldogs with more frequent trains to their games.
Although, Trevor now has to try and curb his celebrations – which proved tough on grand final day. Trevor jumped up and did three little victory dances in the living room, while his sisters worried about him causing himself extra pain.
But there was no way Trevor felt pain in a Bulldogs’ premiership win.
Trevor’s connection with the Bulldogs started as a young teenager in the early 1970s, growing up in Ararat, encouraged by his mate across the road.
He got to know former Footscray rover Merv Hobbs, the Bulldogs who took one of the game’s most iconic marks in the 1961 preliminary final. He loved to watch the likes of imposing ruckman Gary Dempsey.
Tenacious midfielder Liam Picken is Trevor’s favourite Bulldogs now.
“Picken’s so tough in every contest and never gives up,” Trevor said. “I feel like a little kid, wanting to get my photo with him sometime, but the guy is the same age as my son.”
Trevor said he was lucky his pain was now under control and he could enjoy life and football. He said the pain was chasing him now, rather than trying to beat constant pain. And it helped to keep a Bulldog-like attitude to each day.
