Thousands of fans gather to cheer on the Western Bulldogs

The crowd that converged on the team's spiritual home of Whitten Oval for a pre-AFL grand final training session represented the broad multicultural mix of the team's supporter base.

Fans hold a sign saying Believe at the Western Bulldogs final training session at the Whitten Oval in Melbourne. Source: AAP

Whitten Oval, in Melbourne's western suburbs, was a sea of red, white and blue passion as fans gathered at "the Kennel" to watch the Western Bulldogs go through their final paces.

Melbourne's western suburbs are one of the most ethnically-diverse regions in Australia and those who live there are right behind the team in its quest to break a sixty-two-year premiership drought.

Long-time supporter Charlie de Bono told SBS he was confident his team could bring home the premiership.

"We are going to win. We are going to kill 'em. We're going to smash 'em," he said.

Players train in front of a large crowd at the Western Bulldogs final training session at Whitten Oval in Melbourne. (AAP) Source: AAP

It's been a long road for these tri-colour fans - the Dogs' last grand final appearance was in 1961 and their last and only premiership victory was seven years earlier.

Ian Stafford came close to being there on that glorious day in 1954.

"I was 14 when they had the grand final and I couldn't go because mum and dad couldn't afford it," he told SBS.

"Sixty-two years is a long time to wait and I am going on Saturday."

When the Bulldogs run out on Saturday they'll be representing not only Melbourne's sprawling western suburbs, but also one of the most ethnically-diverse regions in Australia.

Supporter Tim Vega doesn't usually back the Dogs but has jumped on board as a tribute to a friend who died recently.

"It just brings people from all places and ethnicities together and that's what is really great about the club," he told SBS.

On the field itself, the AFL playing group is also taking on a more multicultural hue.

Richmond star Bachar Houli's pre-Grand Final tournament fosters young Muslim recruits.

"It's great to see young men from African, Asian and Middle eastern backgrounds," he told SBS.

One of them, Mohammed Saad, is hoping to join his brother, Gold Coast defender Adam, in the big league.

"I have just got to wait for the draft and see how it goes," he told SBS.

"If it doesn't go then I'll just go back to the [Victorian Football League] and try again....never give up on my dream."