It didn't take long for Sam Proudfoot to be bitten by the Bulldogs' bug.
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Before arriving in Gunnedah in 2017 to take up a posting at Gunnedah High School, Proudfoot hadn't played AFL for a little while.
And while he didn't pull on the blue, white and red that year - somewhat "regrettably" with the Bulldogs going on to win the premiership - he had some involvement with the club through the school.
What he found was a club "super supportive" and enthusiastic about footy in the community.
"It sort of got me back thinking about playing again," he said.
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So when the 2018 season rolled around Proudfoot signed up.
He had played the odd game at uni, but it wasn't really until he took a job working in a remote community in the Northern Territory that he really developed a passion for the game.
"I was working in a community called Wadeye. The best thing I did up there was playing AFL," he said.
It was a good way to meet the locals, and was a great but very different experience. For one the well-prepared and grass-covered grounds he is accustomed to playing on these days are a far cry from the dust bowls up there.
"I actually got blood poisoning twice from bacteria in the ground," he said.
Now into his third season with the 'Doggies', Proudfoot, who when asked what position he plays replied "anywhere Dougie (coach Doug Meagher) will play me", was among a good roll-up last Saturday for the club's first training session since all AFL-activity was suspended.
"We as a club were super excited about season 2020 but with everything that happened obviously that takes precedence," he said.
"But to be back around the boys and working towards ideally having something that resembles a season this year is great and it was a great morning."
He said it was great to get the footy back in the hands, and also see what Meagher had concocted over the break.
"It's always good to see what Dougie's been cooking up, he's a bit of a mad scientist with his drills but in a good way and you can already see the game plan evolving moving forward," Proudfoot joked.
Before the pandemic hit it was shaping as a momentous season for the club. Not only were they chasing back-to-back titles but they had started up a women's team.
That is coming along well. Judging by the turnout on Saturday (they outnumbered the men) their enthusiasm hasn't waned over the lockdown.
The plan at this stage is to train Tuesday's and Thursday's with the option of Saturday.