Western
BulldogsWestern
Bulldogs
For such a working class area, Footscray’s creation had very regal origins. It was formed in 1883, the year Prince Imperial died. In the clubs early days the were known as the Footscray Imperials.
Before Footscray could be accepted to play in the VFA, the Western Oval had to be upgraded. The ground had to be widened. It was also decided to move the pavilion to the Barky St end of the ground. As it was moving across the ground it became bogged in the centre. Every man and his horse in the area were summoned to the ground to help move it.
Footscray was a hard and tough team. In one game against Williamstown a player was reported for leaving the ground because ‘as they didn’t want to participate in a free fight’.
When the VFL started, Footscray improved finishing third in 1897. In 1900 Footscray won its first flag. In 1905 Footscray defeated Brunswick before 41,000 at the MCG, the game was played when the American Fleet was in town.
Footscray won another flag in 1913, but the clubs greatest era was about to begin. Footscray won the 1919 and 1920 premierships. During 1920 Footscray was in a lot of controversy due to match payments. Some players weren’t payed because Footscray had to play North Melbourne twice after people ran onto the ground before the end of the game.
A runaway win against Williamstown in the 1924 Grand Final was Footscray’s 4th flag in 6 years. This sparked calls for a charity between the VFA champions and the VFL premiers, Essendon. The game is still in controversy with allegations that some Essendon players played well below their best. Footscray won the game by 28 points.
A few months later the VFL announced that Footscray was accepted to play in there competition. A furious VFA refused to give Footscray the pennant and medals for the 1924 Premiership. But that didn’t worry Footscray because they were in the VFL.
It wasn’t until 1954 before Footscray won it’s first flag in the VFL. One of Footscray’s favourite sons, Ted Whitten had an outstanding career which spanned 3 decades. With his leadership, Footscray played in its second Grand Final in 1961, the year Hawthorn won their first premiership. When Ted Whitten died in 1995, Footscray renamed its ground to become the Whitten Oval.
In recent times Footscray has battled for it’s survival. The Bulldogs were insolvent at the end of 1989, almost to the point of a merger with Fitzroy. But the clubs supporters saved the club raising $1 million in the SOS campaign.
Originally Footscray was known as the tricolours. In 1928 the club was dubbed the Bulldogs, when a real bulldog accidentally led the players onto the ground.
In Brief
Joined League: 1925
Premierships: 1
Premiership years: 1954
Brownlow Medallists: Allan Hopkins (1930), Norman Ware (1941), Peter Box (1956), John Schultz (1960), Gary Dempsey (1975), Kelvin Templeton (1980), Brad Hardie(1985), Tony Liberatore (1990), Scott Wynd (1992).
