Diehard supporters in for long haul
They have waited 19 years for this moment, so a 100-hour round bus trip is nothing for this passionate group of Dockers fans.
Adding the "anyhow" to Fremantle coach Ross Lyon's "anyone, anywhere, anytime" mantra, 90 purple-clad supporters boarded two Horizons West coaches last night bound for Melbourne.
The West Australian joined them on the 3400km journey via the Tammin Roadhouse, Norseman, Balladonia, Ceduna, Port Augusta, Murray Bridge and Stawell.
Like school students about to embark on an excursion, the excited supporters started singing the club anthem before the buses arrived.
Among them were members of the South West Dockers Supporters Club, including 76-year-old Margaret Bloom, of Busselton.
She drives from Busselton to every home game and had several sleepless nights before finding out she was successful in the ballot for grand final tickets.
"I always wanted to go to a grand final and my kids and grandkids chipped in for my bus ticket, so I can't wait," Ms Bloom said. "It will be an adventure."
The buses will stop only briefly along the way and roadhouses have been warned to stock up food for the masses.
Horizon West general manager Michelle Balla, who is a seasoned Nullarbor Plain traveller, predicted it would be the experience of a lifetime. "It's amazing," she said.
"The biggest thing is the appreciation you get for how large and barren Australia is.
"You get to the other end and say, 'Wow, that was a journey'.
"I think everyone should do it once in their lives. And you make pretty good friends on the Nullarbor."
Ms Balla said all 90 passengers, who each paid $880 for the return trip, were "pumped".
"They're hoping to witness history in the making," she said.
The bus pulled out last night amid cheers and chatter.
But can this level of excitement be maintained for the next 48 hours? Only time will tell.
