Bravehearts of the left

Being a supporter of the Western Bulldogs has its downside. First, we haven’t won a premiership since 1954, which is quite a spell. And then there are a few, just a few, fellow members of the club you would really prefer to see barracking for some other team. Julia Gillard, for example, remains our number one ticketholder, despite moving back to Adelaide, which has to be the best thing to happen to Altona since environmental regulations took the stink out of the oil refinery at the corner of Millers and Kororoit Creek roads.

Then there is Walkley-winning cartoonist Andrew Marlton, who wields his pen for The Guardian‘s local edition under the byline First Dog on the Moon. That’s a frame from his latest effort above and it’s enough to make you wish he didn’t follow the footy at all, let alone the Bulldogs.

It is not know which footy team Greens leader Christine Milne supports, but if she applies for a season ticket at Whitten Oval we can expect First Dog to endorse the application. Like the Guardian‘s fearlessly spineless cartoonist, she won’t have been surprised to learn of the Charlie Hebdo massacre. Here is her warning to the French newspaper in late 2012:

Senator Milne said the magazine’s decision to publish was “like pouring petrol on the flames”.

“I think it’s highly irresponsible that they’ve proceeded at this time knowing full well that this could lead to further loss of life,” she told Sky News.

First Dog’s full effort can be viewed via the link below.

— roger franklin

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