Bulldog Team of the Century 2000-2100: Nominations Open:

[bulldogtragic]

I thought I'd start a thread for our great grand kids on the basis that WOOF and the internet don't become irrelevant by year 2100.

Over the next 87 years we shall nominate players we think should be in the squad.

- My only rule is 100 games as a minimum. (* Note they need to be played from 2000 onwards)
- Best and Fairests are not automatic entry, although 2 wins or more are.
- A Brownlow is automatic selection into the squad, but not the final team.
- Players who leave for another club can be nominated (see the previous team of the century).
- Players inducted into previous team must have played 100 games after 2000.
- The amount of players named on the interchange shall be six (6), or more if the level has risen as at year 2100.
- Any "subs" or similar shall be included into the interchange bench of six (6).
- There shall be no "emergency" list.
- There shall be only one (1) Senior Coach Listed.

This thread will be around in 87 years so please... To make a nomination, please select your player, the position you want AND a fall back position (ie Full Forward, or Forward Pocket or Onball, or Half Back Flank. (* especially if someone plays 'centre' or 'rover')

Please Read Carefully before contributing:

Please be serious, no stupid nominations, please give a detailed reason as to why (this should be no less than 100 words) it should include a bio of games, goals, relevant averages, positions played, leadership roles and an opinion piece on how they played and what they contributed to the Western Bulldogs Football Club and why they should be immortalised over others.

* The following post (post 2 in this thread) shall be updated while I'm alive with the squad.
* Every decade ending, starting from 2020 the squad shall be placed in the best team available from the squad and updated every decade ending.

[bulldogtragic]

Bulldogs Team of The Century Squad:

Brad Johnson (forward / half forward / midfield)
Scott West (centre / follower / wing)
Luke Darcy (ruck / forward pocket)
Rohan Smith (forward / back pocket / flank)
Chris Grant (CHF /CHB / forward / back)
Nathan Eagleton (wing / flanks forward or back)
Ryan Hargrave (half back flank / back pocket)
Brian (Harris) Lake (full back / centre half back)
Dale Morris (back pocket, 3rd tall back)
Robert (Bob) Murphy (half back flank / half forward flank)
Matthew Boyd (midfield / back flank)
Will Minson (ruck/second ruck interchange)
Liam Picken (midfield / forward)
Daniel Giansiracusa (forward)
Easton Wood (defender)
Lindsey Gilbee (defender)
Marcus Bontempelli (midfield / forward)

[westdog54]

I shall get the ball rolling by nominating Brad Johnson.

182cm, 87kg, Forward/Half Forward/Midfield.

Between 2000 and 2009 he played 240 games and kicked 456 goals, to finish with career tallies of 364 games and 558 goals.

Johnson was drafted at Pick 11 overall in the 1993 National Draft. Known by the football public for his infectious smile, the 182cm forward endeared himself to the Bulldogs faithful with his overhead marking ability and knack of finding the big sticks over a 17 season career.

Johnson won 3 best and fairest awards and was named as an All Australian an astounding 6 times. His best year came in 2006 when, in addition to being named acting Captain after a season ending injury to Luke Darcy, Johnson would not only be selected in the All Australian team, but would also be named Captain. Johnson kicked 70 goals to finish second in the Coleman Medal that season to Carlton spearhead Brendan Fevola.

Johnson would be officially named Captain of the club for the 2007 season, a role he maintained until his retirement in 2010.

The club's first game of the 2008 season was also Johnson's 300th, in a memorable game against Adelaide. In a remarkable final quarter, Johnson would kick the Dogs' last 3 goals of the game, two of them in the space of a minute, to give the Dogs the lead. A late rally by the Crows was not enough, and a missed shot after the siren by Crow defender Nathan Bock ensured a fairy tale finish for Johnson in his milestone game.

Johnson is the Bulldogs' games record holder, a record that, when one examines the career span of the modern footballer, appears unlikely to be broken. Through his loyalty to the club, his unwavering smile and leadership on and off the field, Johnson has carved a permanent place in the history of the club and the hearts of its supporters.

[Scorlibo]

#7 Scott West, 177 games, 47 goals, 2000-2008, Midfielder, 178cm, 83kg, from Strathmore (Vic).

Nominated for: Centre.
Alternatives (in order of preference): Ruck-Rover, Rover, Wing.

Achievements/Awards:

• Runner-up Brownlow Medal: 2000, 2006. (2)
• Top 5 Brownlow Medal: 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006. (4)
• Best and Fairest: 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005. (4)
• All-Australian: 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006. (4)
• Hall of Fame Inductee: 2013.

Scott 'Westy' West was a key person in shifting the attitude of the Western Bulldogs Football Club in a more professional direction in the early 2000's. He was a fierce teammate and loyal clubman. Known for his ability to accumulate many possessions on a consistent basis (demonstrated by his career average of 25.4 disposals), West had incredible awareness and determination around the stoppages. His trademark play was to extract the football from congestion and, whilst on his hands and knees, feed a handball out to a teammate. He was not quick but worked hard on maintaining a fitness base which would enable him to run all day. A left-footer, West was not known for his foot skills but was more than capable in this respect.

West became one of the most iconic, admired and formidable midfielders within the AFL. He went in as a raging people's favourite to win the 2006 Brownlow Medal but was pipped in the last round by Sydney's Adam Goodes. It would mark the last opportunity for West to take home the coveted medal in his career, having been a mainstay in the league best and fairest counts over his illustrious career.

'Westy' ended his playing career on a bitter note after becoming injured in early 2008 - the first of a series of very successful years for the Club. His influence in these years can instead be seen in the fine bunch of senior players drafted in the years 1999-2003 who he mentored during an unsuccessful period of years in 2002-2004. Supporters remember him as a red, white and blue warrior who would never take a backwards step and who got the most out of himself. He is universally respected and in 2013 was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame.

The Scott West Most Courageous Award, awarded at the club Best and Fairest night, is named in his honour.

[Scorlibo]

#14 Luke Darcy, 131 games, 115 goals, 2000-2007, Ruckman, 197cm, 99kg, from South Adelaide (SA).

Nominated for: Ruck.
Alternatives: Forward Pocket.

Achievements/Awards:

• AFLPA MVP: 2002 (1)
• Best and Fairest: 2001 (1)
• All-Australian: 2002 (1)
• Club Leading Goal Kicker: 2004 (1)
• Club Captain: 2005-2006 (2)

Luke 'Darce' Darcy was one of the first in a generation of mobile ruckmen in the AFL. From 2001-2002 his ability to move between a ruck-midfield role and the forward line was well noted. Darcy would become known for his strength in the contest, his running capacity and an accurate left boot.

Beginning his career as the understudy to Brownlow Medallist Scott Wynd in the late nineties, Darcy's ascendance to be the number one Bulldogs ruckman was met with great success. For 5 years between 2000 and 2004, Darcy averaged 17.2 disposals, 6.1 marks, 14.7 hitouts and 0.8 goals. His dominance in this period was reflected in the year of 2002 with All-Australian honours, the AFL Player's Association Most Valuable Player Award and the Herald Sun Player of the Year Award. As of 2013, Darcy's 2002 year means that he is perhaps the only ruckman since the turn of the century to have been widely recognised as the best player in the competition.

Darcy's career was cut short by successive knee injuries in 2005 and 2006, the years in which he captained the club. He is remembered for his leadership, on and off the field, and for his part in revolutionising the role of the modern ruckman.

[Scorlibo]

At the risk of monopolising the nominations, my favourite:

#5 Rohan Smith, 153 games, 128 goals, 2000-2006, Utility, 184cm, 80kg, from Kingsville (Vic).

Nominated for: Half Back Flank.
Alternatives: Wing, Half Forward Flank, Back Pocket, Forward Pocket.

Achievements/Awards:

• All Australian: 2003 (1)
• Club Leading Goal Kicker: 2000 (1)

Rohan 'Bubba' Smith was known for his penetrating kick and for his ability to play all over the ground. Smith was one of a group of five players (along with Scott West, Brad Johnson, Chris Grant and Luke Darcy) who would carry the Western Bulldogs culture and brand upon their shoulders in their 10 year tenure as leaders of the Club. His close friendship with Brad Johnson would lead to the two being called, 'B1 and B2' - a reference to the popular ABC Kids television show 'Bananas in Pyjamas'. Their bond was also evident on the field, where they would frequently bring each other into the game.

But Smith was a champion player in his own right. After winning the Club's goal kicking in 2000, he would play the majority of his remaining 6 years on a half-back flank. He was regarded in this time as being among the finest rebounders in the competition, using his booming right boot to good effect. In 2003, he won All-Australian selection on the half-back flank. Previously selected as a half-forward flanker in 1997, Smith is one of just five players in the modern era to have been selected as both a defender and a forward in the All-Australian team, the others are: Jason Akermanis, Andrew McLeod, Leon Davis and Matthew Pavlich.

Dramatically, he announced his retirement before the Elimination Final of 2006, which was to be his 299th, and potentially last, AFL game. Fortunately, the Bulldogs disposed of Collingwood and Smith was given the chance to play his 300th AFL game against West Coast the next week in the Semi Final. The Bulldogs would lose this match and Smith would end his career with 300 AFL games, one of only 6 Bulldogs in AFL/VFL history to achieve this.

'Bubba' was an infectious clubman who wore his heart on his sleeve and bled red, white and blue.

[bulldogtragic]

#3 Chris Grant, 123 Games, 161 Goals, 2000-2007, Tall Foward / Back, 193cm, 99kg, from Daylesford.

Nominated for: Centre Half Forward or Centre Half Back.
Alternatives for: Any other forward or back position.

Achievements:

Most votes in the 1997 Brownlow Medal (but ineligible to win)
Western Bulldogs Team of Century 1900-2000
2 best-and-fairest awards (1994, 1996)
3 All-Australian honours (1997, 1998, 1999)
Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee 2012
Club captain (2000–2004)
Club games record holder (2006–2009 )


This generations Teddy 'EJ' Whitten. Quite literally the soul and spirit of the Western Bulldogs as a player and now official of the club. 'Turtle' as he was nicknamed was a gun forward and gun back, he could do it all. He started out as a forward where as a 17 year old he kicked 51 goals, the youngest in VFL/AFL history. A tall target not seen for some time. Quick on the lead a great mark with courage nearly unmatched. But after establishing himself as our gun forward he was moved back and showed the same level of capability. Taking the best Centre Half Backs, including Wayne Carey, he dominated and commanded our back line. A true swing man, arguably the best swing man the AFL has ever seen.

In 2000 Granty was given the honour of captaining the bulldogs. An honour he held until the end on the 2004 season, although he missed virtually all of 2003 with an ACL (knee) injury. Despite this he broke the games record in 2006 held previously by club legends 'EJ' (Whitten) and 'Douggy' (Hawkins). Late in his career he suffered from a serious neck injury which almost ended his career, but he played on despite the league standing in his way.

His courage on field was matched by that of it. When Terry 'Plough' Wallis infamously quit as head coach Plough wanted to coach the last game of the season despite claiming he took the list ad far as it could go. Chris Grant led a charge from the players to President David Smorgan to refuse this. While he knew it would effect his relationship with Plough, he did it anyway for 'his' players and 'his' club. And in 2011 after head coach Rodney 'Rocket' Eade was terminated Granty was appointed onto a panel to find a new head coach. Bookies favourite and club favourite Leon Cameron was not appointed, instead they appointed Brendan McCartney. Granty and Leon started their careers together and are very close friends. Although given the opportunity to have others pass the message to Leon, Granty attended Leon's house near Midnight to tell him in person. Granty says this was the hardest thing he's ever had to do in his life. He knew it, but he did it. Leon went onto be head coach at Greater a Western Sydney Giants. Both are now, and still, the greatest of friends.

I doubt we will see another Grant this century, but if we do, we will be so very lucky.

[bulldogtragic]

#10 Nathan Eagleton, 221 games, 186 goals, 2000-2010, Wing, 180cm, 84kg, from West Adelaide.

Nominated for: Wing
Alternatives for: Flanks, forward and back

Achievements:

AFL Life Member (300+ games inc. pre season etc)
AFL Rising Star Nomination 1997
Match Committee Award 2004
Inaugural Port Adelaide Team Player
International Rules x 2


Nathan 'The Bald Eagle' Eagleton started his career in a flourish at Port Adelaide. His career was nearly ended in 1999 when he collapsed in a game due to an undiagnosed serious heart condition, which was successfully treated. Despite this, he was considered one of the clubs best players. But at the 1999 trade period the bulldogs made an audacious play for him and landed him. The trade involved a second round pick and club favourite Brett 'Monty' Montgomery (known for kissing the bulldog which adorned the jumped when he played, and later he became an assistant coach with us). Many fans were outraged by trading 'Monty' and the hot and cold treatment by fans to him began.

The Bald Eagle had pace to burn and loved to run. He had a long, long left foot on him and loved a running goal from 50 out. In 2000 he slaughtered Geelong kicking 7 goals, 2 behinds, in 2005 he personally contributed 28 goals, he kicked 3 goals or more in a game over a dozen times, all up racking up a total of 186 in his time at the dogs, which is the 24th most in the history of the club (at the date of this post). His pace saw him included into the International Series twice.

Despite supporters hot and cold support of him, the match committee selected him 221 times to wear the red, white and blue. 15th most in the history of the club (as of the date of this post). He also racked up 36 Brownlow Votes.

Not only in the top 25 played for games played and goals kicked for our club, he was a great club man and great person, loved by his team mates and coaches and watching him in form tearing teams a part was as good as watching anyone.

[bulldogtragic]

#25 Ryan Hargrave, 203 games, 37 goals, 2002-2012, Defender, 190cm, 85kg, Perth.

Nominated For: Half Back Flank
Alternate Nominated For: Back Pocket

Achievements:

200 game player (Western Bulldogs)
AFL Rising Star Nominee (2002)
Best Fist Year Player (2002) (Western Bulldogs)


Ryan 'Shaggy' Hargave, not Hargraves, played in the footsteps of his father Steven Hargrave who played in 1982 for the Footscray Football Club. Ryan was another player that was for a period questioned by some 'supporters'. A tall and athletic defender, Hargave started his career in a hard time for club and our players. Hargrave had an exciting start to his career winning our best first year player award. With an inexperienced back line, Hargave was regularly played out of position at Centre Half Back on players bigger and stronger than he. As other defenders started to develop like Brian Lake and Dale Morris, Hargave was allowed to finally play on the 3rd tall and use his running ability to exploit his opponent and play a key role in setting up attack. By the end of his career Hargrave would average nearly 15 positions a game and nearly 5 marks with great accuracy and the ability to float forward and kick the occasional goal. Hargrave can also be remembered for a stunning punch to the face of St Kilda's Heath Black in which he was suspended for 3 weeks AND fined $2,000. He is also a trivia question for which player who got paid holding the ball AFTER kicking the ball free in the 2009 Preliminary Final against St Kilda in which the resulting free kick was a goal and started the attack that ultimately beat us.

[LostDoggy]

#36 Brian Lake, 197 games, 32 goals, 2002-2012, Defender, 195cm, 104kg, from Woodville West-Torrens, (SA).

Nominated for: Full Back.
Alternatives: Back Pocket, Centre Half Back.

Achievements/Awards:
Best and Fairest: 2007 (1)
All-Australian: 2009, 2010 (2)

Brian Lake, born Brian Harris, came to the Club as a raw key position defender taken with Pick 71 at the 2001 AFL Draft. However, by 2005 he was regarded as one of the competitions prominent full-backs, his continued growth culminating with the Best and Fairest award for the 2007 season.

A "defensive gorilla", Lake was best known for his incredible ability and confidence to out-muscle his opponent and take big, contested marks, often on the last line of defence, instead of spoiling. This was aided by his excellent reading of the game, allowing him to leave his opponent when necessary to help out his team-mates and take marks from opposition kicks. At his best, Lake would also rack up the possessions and provide drive into the Bulldogs attack.

By 2009 Lake was arguably the AFL's best full-back, ratified by his inclusion in the All-Australian team in the back pocket next to Matthew Scarlett of Geelong, perhaps the greatest full-back of all time. In 2010 Lake was clearly the game's best, highlighted by his staggering 41 possession, 22 mark game in Round 9 against North Melbourne. This culminated in another All-Australian selection, this time at full-back.

As prolific as Lake was, he was occasionally prone to brain fades, "fondly" known to Bulldogs supporters as "Brain Leaks". The most controversial of these resulted in a free kick and goal to Nick Reiwoldt of St Kilda during the 2009 Preliminary Final, a game the Bulldogs eventually lost by 9 points.

Regardless, Brian Lake will be remembered as arguably the Western Bulldogs greatest ever full-back. He was traded to Hawthorn before the beginning of the 2013 season.

[westdog54]

#38 Dale Morris, 173* games, 33 goals, 2005-2014*, Defender, 190cm, 93kg, from Werribee (VFL).

Nominated for: Back Pocket
Alternatives: Half Back

Achievements:
2008 All Australian

Afer initailly being overlooked in the draft, Morris spent four years playing for VFL club Werribee before being drafted to the Western Bulldogs at Selection 19 in the 2005 Rookie Draft. Morris would play 17 games that year and quickly cemented himself in the Bulldogs line-up with his ability to shut down any defender and extraordinary pace, tall or small, that he was matched up against. It came as no surprise when he was elevated to the senior list at the end of the 2005 season. His meteoric rise as a footballer in 2005 was capped with Selection in Kevin Sheedy's new-look International Rules side

Morris' consistency as a defender was rewarded in 2008 with selection in the 2008 All Australian team at back pocket.

Universally praised for his courage and work ethic, Morris would have his career halted by a severe leg break at the end of the 2011 season, which would see him miss all of 2012. Fears that he may not return to the game were emphatically quashed in 2013, with Morris returning as though he had never left, finishing 5th in the Bulldogs best and fairest and winning the Scott West 'Most Courageous Player' Award.

Although his playing career is yet to conclude, there is no doubt that Morris will be fondly remembered as one of the finest players ever to don the Red, White and Blue, and a continuing living example of the success of the Rookie List.

[1eyedog]

#2 Robert Murphy, 295* games, 173 goals, Defender, 186cm, 82kg, from Warragul / Gippsland Power. Draft 13th overall, 1999

Nominated for: Half back Flank
Alternatives: Half forward Flank

Achievements:

Most Promising 2001
AFL Rising Star Nominee 2001
International Rules Series 2002, 2003
Best Team Person 2003
2008 Victoria (Australia) Victoria 1 (1)
All-Australian Team 2011
All-Australian Captain 2015

Robert 'Bob' Murphy has given 295 professional, consistent and most importantly, loyal, games to the Bulldogs despite limited on-field success.
He arrived at the kennel as a skinny 17-year-old who looked nothing like a footballer, but has turned into a champion of his club.
The Bulldog spent the middle part of his career playing as a hard-running, undersized centre-half-forward with fantastic awareness, good pace and elite disposal.

He later moved back to defence where his decision-making and execution by both hand and foot was a feature of his game.
Murphy is in the twilight of his career and it is a shame that he is likely to join the long list of quality footballers who go unrewarded with a premiership. Murphy was rewarded with an All-Australian cap in 2011 but stated after that his greatest achievement was winning Best Team Person in 2003 and that is why we love him. Murphy is a true Bulldog of old who relishes the history around the club and all the club stands for.

Playing ability aside, Murphy is regarded among the AFL community as a champion bloke. The Eagles sent him from the field with a guard of honour, such is the respect that club has for him.

Murphy is highly articulate and his insights into the game are often fascinating. His dry wit and honesty makes him perfect for television and he is a regular guest on the AFL360 programme.

[bulldogtragic]

Fair Call 1eyedog!!

[bornadog]

Future nomination but not yet - Jake Stringer

[westdog54]

Matthew Boyd
248 Games 82 Goals
midfielder/defender 184cm 88kg
Recruited From Frankston (VFL)
2002 Rookie draft pick 23

Nominated for: Midfield
Alternative: Half back

Honours
All Australian 2009, 2011
Charles Sutton Medal 2009, 2011, 2012
Club Captain 2011-2013
Rose Sutton Medallist 2007

After being overlooked in the draft, Boyd plied his trade in the VFL at standalone club Frankston before being thrown a lifeline by the Western Bulldogs in the 2002 Rookie draft. Boyd debuted in 2003 and played the early part of his career as a run-with midfielder and struggled to cement his place in the team.

Boyd's career was reinvigorated under coach Rodney Eade, becoming a ball-winning midfielder. His form was recognised by two Charlie Sutton medals and two All Australian appearances. Boyd's manic professionalism and leadership was further recognised by his appointment as Club Captain in 2011.

Despite the Bulldogs poor form under Coach Brendan McCartney, Boyd continued to lead by example, winning the 2012 Sutton Medal.

A drop in form in 2013 led to Boyd standing down as Captain for the 2014 season to focus on football. Out of contract, Boyd's future was uncertain and opinion divided amongst supporters, with Boyd eventually signing a one year deal, prior to the Bulldogs' turbulent off season.

Boyd was given a new lease of life under new coach Luke Beveridge. Moved from the Midfield to half back, Boyd is enjoying a reinvigorated career, defying critics by regularly featuring in the bests for the Bulldogs in his new role.

Throughout his career, Boyd had compensated for a lack of talent through his manic professionalism, work ethic, leadership and will to succeed. He has been a shining example to young footballers everywhere.