MP says Bully for the Doggies

by James Twining

A WESTERN suburbs MP who has spent his life barracking for Richmond is suddenly developing a soft spot for the Bulldogs.

Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Bernie Finn recently dedicated a Parliament members’ statement - usually reserved for less pressing matters of importance - to pledging a semi-allegiance to the Western Bulldogs this AFL season.

Mr Finn, pictured, managed to turn a dig at the Labor Party - which rivals football as one of his favourite pastimes - into congratulating the Bulldogs on their NAB Cup pre-season success.

He said footy fans in the West who follow the Doggies had “a spring in their step” and indicated they had his backing.

“I am not jumping on the bandwagon,” Mr Finn told the Upper House.

“Members in this house, if not everybody in Victoria, know I am a Tiger supporter, but it is very hard not to get excited about the way the Western Bulldogs are shaping up for this year.

“The Chinese tell us that it is the Year of the Tiger. I have my doubts, sadly, and in the absence of a Richmond flag I sincerely hope that the cup can come to the Whitten Oval in 2010.”

Mr Finn’s electorate office staff said he had renewed his Bulldogs membership this year.