It was the day her "footy life" changed forever.

Six years ago as a Grade Three student, Leah was doing what most youngsters at that age do - follow the AFL club her family supported. That club was Essendon.

She liked Essendon, but she didn't love Essendon.

She found her footy love the day the Western Bulldogs held a footy clinic at her school.

"Lachie Hunter, Mitch Wallis, Jackso McRae, Jake Stringer and Luke Dahlhaus visited the school,'' Leah, now 15, said.

"We were able to kick the footy with them and we had a lot of fun. From that day I've barracked for the Bulldogs."

Pollard has posters of Bulldogs' stars all over her house and admitted she tends to get emotional when she watches Bulldogs' games either at the ground or on TV.

"I cry when they lose,'' she said.

There were tears of joy when the Dogs won the 2016 premiership - something Leah hopes to repeat on Saturday night when her Doggies take on Melbourne in the grand final.

"The 2016 grand final was unreal,'' Leah said. "It was such an intense game."

While Cody Weightman is her favourite player (not just because of the long blonde hair), Leah tipped a rising Bulldogs' star to win the Norm Smith Medal.

"I've got a really good feeling about the game,'' she said.

"I think we'll win and Bailey Smith will win the Norm Smith Medal."

While Leah will watch the game at home with her family, another Western Bulldogs' fan from Bendigo will wake up in the early hours of Saturday morning in the United States to watch his beloved Bulldogs.

Pro golfer Lucas Herbert is a passionate Bulldogs' fan and he'll watch the game from his American base in Orlando.

Herbert followed in the footsteps of two of his grandparents by supporting the Dogs and that passion for the club was only strengthened when his former junior footy team-mate Jake Stringer was drafted by the club.

Herbert has visited the club several times and stays in contact with Dogs' key midfielder Lachie Hunter.

Read more: Every heart beats true for loyal Melbourne fans

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: