Bulldogs By the Numbers

[merantau]

Shaun Higgins debuted in Rd 9 '06 wearing #19 and took over #7 in Rd 1 of 2009. A very skilled player in all aspects of the game he played some very good football for us mainly off half forward, occasionally through midfield and sometimes off half back.

In 2015 as a restricted free agent he was cleared to North Melbourne where he played excellent football often in midfield twice winning their B&F in '17 and '18. He played 128 games for us and kicked 129 goals.

2021 sees him lining up now at Geelong for his 16th season having played 237 games and kicking 224 goals.

It's fair to say, that like a good wine, he just got better with age.

[merantau]

Max Cross debuted for us against South in Rd 5 1956 wearing #8 and he booted a casual five goals playing at full forward. From Parkside, he played every remaining game including two finals - 16 games netted 52 goals. Only St Kilda's Bill Young kicked more with 56. Max kicked 4 of our 5 goals in our thrilling 2 point semi-final win over Geelong. Jack Collins kicked the other one.
But it all went belly up in 1957. He only played 5 games and kicked 2 goals. He applied for a clearance to Bena in the Bass Valley League but we would not let him go. He walked away from football and died on Mar 7, 1984 aged just 50. Twenty one games for 54 goals but still remembered by old timers like me. Six foot tall and 76kgs, perhaps there is a story behind his demise.

[Twodogs]

#8 is the tough guys number. Three real hard nuts Rick Kennedy, Bernard Toohey and Mitch Hahn wore it.

[merantau]

1958 saw Bob Spargo, from the Braybrook Football Club, debut for the Dogs in the #8 as a lightning fast half forward. Six foot tall and 80kg he quickly progressed to become one of the leading centremen of his day. He was selected to play for Victoria but sustained an injury and withdrew.

He played 80 games and kicked 43 goals in six seasons. He transferred to West Perth as playing coach in 1964. He represented WA and won the Simpson Medal in 1968 in a State game against Victoria.

Like his father Bob Snr he was an accomplished pro sprinter and made the Stawell Gift Final although I have been unable to find out the year.

A very fine player. One of my favourite players as a kid.

Upon his return from the West he settled in Albury. Sadly that was in North Melbourne's zone so his son Paul was tied to them and we missed out on a very handy player.

[Twodogs]

1958 saw Bob Spargo, from the Braybrook Football Club, debut for the Dogs in the #8 as a lightning fast half forward. Six foot tall and 80kg he quickly progressed to become one of the leading centremen of his day. He was selected to play for Victoria but sustained an injury and withdrew.

He played 80 games and kicked 43 goals in six seasons. He transferred to West Perth as playing coach in 1964. He represented WA and won the Simpson Medal in 1968 in a State game against Victoria.

Like his father Bob Snr he was an accomplished pro sprinter and made the Stawell Gift Final although I have been unable to find out the year.

A very fine player. One of my favourite players as a kid.

Upon his return from the West he settled in Albury. Sadly that was in North Melbourne's zone so his son Paul was tied to them and we missed out on a very handy player.

He would have been eligible as a father son recruit which was only 50 games back then. We must have overlooked him or he wasn't interested in following his dad to Footscray.

[merantau]

1965 saw the debut of 18 year old Alan "Doc" Mannix in the #8. A winger/ half forward he was with us for 8 season, played 112 games and kicked 43 goals.
In 1973 he was cleared to Coburg in the VFA.
The following information is courtesy of Wickipedia.

"Mannix played 110 games for Coburg, making him one of a small group of players to play more than 100 games for a VFL club and a VFA club.[6] He won a 2nd Division premiership in 1974,[7][8] finished third in voting for the 1975 J. J. Liston Trophy, won the club's best and fairest award twice, in 1973 and 1976, then was rewarded with the captaincy in 1977.[9][10]

He also won a best and fairest for Werribee, in 1979.[11] The following year he captain-coached Werribee for the season.[12]

Coburg named Mannix on a wing in the club's Team of the Century.[13]"

Mannix forged a career to be proud of.

[merantau]

Ian Morrison debuted wearing #8 in 1973 and was with us until 1980 for an 8 year career which netted 110 games and 101 goals. A ruck rover/half forward he was a good mark and and had plenty of dash.
In 1981 he spent a year at Essendon without success. He then went to Sandringham and in their 1985 Premiership, playing at full forward, he booted 108 goals and won the Jim "Frosty" Miller medal.
A very worthy career.

[merantau]

1981 saw Rick Kennedy debut wearing #54! He took over #8 in 1982 until his retirement at the end of the 1991 season. He played 158 games as a rugged, attacking, no nonsense full back.

Standing 6'2" and weighing 83kg, he often found himself playing on bigger opponents but always rose to the challenge relishing the challenge and the contest.

A crowd favourite he was made Club captain in 1986 - a role he held for three years. After retirement he served the Club in a number of roles - a truly loved Bulldog.

[merantau]

He would have been eligible as a father son recruit which was only 50 games back then. We must have overlooked him or he wasn't interested in following his dad to Footscray.

Thanks for the heads up. I didn't realise that. Either way it's a shame he didn't turn out for the RWB to continue a family tradition.

[Twodogs]

Thanks for the heads up. I didn't realise that. Either way it's a shame he didn't turn out for the RWB to continue a family tradition.

Yeah. I wonder what happened? Paul was a very handy player.

[merantau]

Bernard Toohey wore the #8 for us for two seaons and 40 games beginning in 1992. He'd already had 5 years at Geelong and six at Sydney where he'd established himself as a tough defender and versatile utility who could hold down full forward. He won the Swans goalkicking in 1989 and was All Australian in 1987.
All up he played 265 games and kicked 115 goals. He was an excellent pick up for us. You knew what you got with Bernard - a tough, hard at it player you could rely on.

[merantau]

In 1994 we recruited Daniel Southern from Claremont where he'd just played in a Premiership. Solidly built (92kg) he stood 6'2" and took no prisoners.
He quickly became a crowd favourite with his straight ahead style and bold personality.
He wore #8 for 7 seasons and played 103 games for us. He battled knee injuries throughout his career and his early retirement was a big blow.

[merantau]

Mitch Hahn from Zillmere debuted in 2000 wearing #37. In 2001 he took over #8. He played 181 games and kicked 165 goals. At 99kg and 6'2" he cut an imposing figure in our midfield. Was delisted and then redrafted as a rookie in 2010. Went to Brisbane as a backline coach upon retirement and is now coaching the Lions team in the NEAFL.

[Bulldog4life]

Yeah. I wonder what happened? Paul was a very handy player.

And Paul's son now plays for Melbourne. A great footballing family.

[merantau]

Back to #7. 2013 saw our current #7, Lachie Hunter, debut wearing #26. He took over #7 in 2015 and has now played 138 games and kicked 61 goals. He was a major contributor to our 2016 Finals campaign. His hard running willingness to get back to help out our defence is a feature of his game. Lachie is there from "go to whoa" - a key member of our midfield, a prolific ball magnet and link up player. He has finished top ten in the Club's B&F five seasons running and won the award in 2018.

He's had to overcome some off field challenges to his mental toughness and has come through with flying colours. Will be a one club player.