Bulldogs By the Numbers

[Twodogs]

Although he only wore #5 for one season with us - 1972 - any discussion of significant Bulldogs players would be remiss without a recount of the career of Robert "Bones McGhie".
His junior football club was Tottenham Technical School which, owing to the dedication of teachers and parents, entered a team in the FDL. They were defeated by one point by Braybrook in the 1966 GF.
Robbie arrived at the Dogs in 1969 and debuted as a tough, tatt emblazoned, defender who played close and kicked the ball long. Sideboards and a bit of a mullet rounded him out as one tough-looking hombre.
He wore #40 from '69 - 71 and #5 in '72. He left at the end of the season after an altercation with the Club President, I believe.

Robbie spent the next six years at Richmond and played in their '73 and '74 Premierships. He then returned to us in 1979 for 12 games wearing #24. Next he spent two years at South playing 16 games wearing #1 and #4

All up "Bones" played 4 stints for 3 Clubs over thirteen seasons. He racked up 146 games (49 with us) in his colourful, eventful career. He was appointed coach of VFA club Sunshine when they were trying to re-establish but the Association rejected their application.
Robbie went on to coach St Albans in the FDL which eventually became the Western Region Football League, I believe.
If you know more please contribute/correct as needed.

McGhie was sacked by the club after hitting a woman during a club trip to Adelaide. From memory he was remanded for a night or two by the SA police before the club bailed him out.

[jeemak]

I've said enough. Just out two and two together and you'll get there.

I don't accept this.

[merantau]

Our next #5 was Bruce Reid. He was recruited from Sandhurst in the Bendigo League and played 86 games between '77 and '82 before going to Carlton for 3 years. He played mainly as a defender. Standing 6'4" and weighing 96kgs he was very athletics and could take a turn in the ruck.

[merantau]

Ian Williams arrived from Swan Districts in 1983 and stayed for 3 seasons playing 33 games and booting 45 goals. He had a lot of tricks and in his first season booted 31 goals including the match winner in a come from behind win at Moorabbin.
He only played 3 games in 1985 and I think he went back to the West.
Alan Daniels took over #5 in 1986 for one year. He also headed back West.

[bornadog]

Ian Williams arrived from Swan Districts in 1983 and stayed for 3 seasons playing 33 games and booting 45 goals. He had a lot of tricks and in his first season booted 31 goals including the match winner in a come from behind win at Moorabbin.
He only played 3 games in 1985 and I think he went back to the West.
Alan Daniels took over #5 in 1986 for one year. He also headed back West.

Allen played in 1985 as I remember him in the finals, but can't remember if he wore 5 that year.

Edit, Just looked it up he wore 11 in 1985.

[bornadog]

Another #5 is Ian Bryant played 160 games with 136 games in the number 5, during the 60s and was a handy player. Also played in the 1961 Grandfinal, mainly backpocket and wing. Finished 9th in the 1966 Brownlow and played for Victoria and rewarded with AA.

[Bulldog4life]

Something else I failed to mention about Peter Box. He represented Australia at the 1956 Olympics in a demonstration baseball game against the USA.

Also with Peter he left the club in unfortunate circumstances. Think of Wayne Carey.

[Bulldog4life]

Although he only wore #5 for one season with us - 1972 - any discussion of significant Bulldogs players would be remiss without a recount of the career of Robert "Bones McGhie".
His junior football club was Tottenham Technical School which, owing to the dedication of teachers and parents, entered a team in the FDL. They were defeated by one point by Braybrook in the 1966 GF.
Robbie arrived at the Dogs in 1969 and debuted as a tough, tatt emblazoned, defender who played close and kicked the ball long. Sideboards and a bit of a mullet rounded him out as one tough-looking hombre.
He wore #40 from '69 - 71 and #5 in '72. He left at the end of the season after an altercation with the Club President, I believe.

Robbie spent the next six years at Richmond and played in their '73 and '74 Premierships. He then returned to us in 1979 for 12 games wearing #24. Next he spent two years at South playing 16 games wearing #1 and #4

All up "Bones" played 4 stints for 3 Clubs over thirteen seasons. He racked up 146 games (49 with us) in his colourful, eventful career. He was appointed coach of VFA club Sunshine when they were trying to re-establish but the Association rejected their application.
Robbie went on to coach St Albans in the FDL which eventually became the Western Region Football League, I believe.
If you know more please contribute/correct as needed.

I remember Bones started off as a forward for us but his goal ratio to behinds was bad. Something like 1 goal 6 behinds in one match. His marking was good so they then put him back.

[Twodogs]

I don't accept this.

This

vvvv

Also with Peter he left the club in unfortunate circumstances. Think of Wayne Carey.

[Twodogs]

Our next #5 was Bruce Reid. He was recruited from Sandhurst in the Bendigo League and played 86 games between '77 and '82 before going to Carlton for 3 years. He played mainly as a defender. Standing 6'4" and weighing 96kgs he was very athletics and could take a turn in the ruck.

Father of Ben from Collingwood and Sam from the Swans. In fact Ben was F/S qualified with us until only a couple of years before he was drafted. The qualification back then was 50 games.

[merantau]

Allen played in 1985 as I remember him in the finals, but can't remember if he wore 5 that year.

Edit, Just looked it up he wore 11 in 1985.

Yes, that's right. In the '85 Prelim, I remember he had three set shots from the boundary Punt Rd end, Members side 35 - 45 mts out and registered 1 behind.

[merantau]

1987 saw the arrival of Ron James who was with us for 3 seasons until his tragic death in a skiing accident on the Murray. He played 16 games starting in #43 and wore #5 for his last 2 seasons.

He debuted just after his 16th birthday. Prior to that Williamstown selected him to play in their 1985 Grand Final side. He was just 14 years old.

It was a great shock to all when he was taken so young and had so much to look forward to

[merantau]

Rohan Smith debuted in 1992 wearing #31. Thereafter, until his retirement at the end of season 2006 he wore #5. His 300 games career places him in elite company.
Rohan was a very attacking half-back with great pace and anticipation. His beautiful long kicking meant he was dangerous once he got a sniff and he booted 254 goals in a career that saw him as often as not thrown forward as an attacking option. In 2000 he won our goal kicking with 42 goals.
Since retirement he has continued to serve the Club on the coaching panel. A truly magnificent Bulldog.

[merantau]

Mathew Boyd took over #5 from Rohan Smith in season 2007. Previous to that he had worn #42 for four seasons.

[merantau]

Mathew Boyd took over #5 from Rohan Smith in season 2007. Previous to that he had worn #42 for four seasons.
Thanks to those on Wickipedia who did the research for this summation of Mathew's career.

Matthew Keith Boyd (born 27 August 1982) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League (AFL). Before joining the Bulldogs, Boyd had played for Dandenong Stingrays in the TAC Cup and Frankston in the VFL.[1] He currently holds the record for the most AFL games played by a player recruited from the rookie draft.[2] Boyd is the grand nephew of Australian football vendor icon Johnny Boyd, known as the Peanut Man.[3]

Matthew Boyd

Boyd playing in March 2017.

Personal informationFull nameMatthew Keith BoydDate of birth27 August 1982 (age 38)Original team(s)Frankston (VFL)
Dandenong Stingrays (TAC Cup)DraftNo. 23, 2002 rookie draftHeight184 cm (6 ft 0 in)Weight88 kg (194 lb)Position(s)Defender / midfielderPlaying career1YearsClubGames (Goals)2003–2017Western Bulldogs292 (86)International team honoursYearsTeamGames (Goals)2008–2010Australia4

1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2017.

2 State and international statistics correct as of 2010.

Career highlights

AFL premiership player (2016)3× Charles Sutton Medal (2009, 2011, 2012)3× All-Australian team (2009, 2011, 2016)Western Bulldogs captain (2011–2013)Pre-season premiership player: 2010Bob Rose–Charlie Sutton Medal: (2007)

Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Playing careerEdit

Boyd made his AFL debut against Fremantle in Round 7 of the 2003 AFL season. The occasion was not a happy one, as the Bulldogs were thrashed by 83 points, eventually finishing the season at the bottom of the ladder.[4] He was able to consolidate a position in the senior team during 2004. Rodney Eade's arrival as coach in 2005 signalled a change in fortune for the Bulldogs; during his tenure, the Bulldogs would reach the Preliminary Final in three consecutive seasons (2008, 2009 and 2010). Boyd was one of the key players in the Bulldogs' resurgence, playing much of his best football under Eade, whom he later credited with saving his career.[5] He wore the number 42 until 2007 when he took the number 5 from Rohan Smith who retired at the end of 2006.

In 2009, Boyd was rewarded for a strong season with selection in the 2009 All-Australian Team & winning his first Charles Sutton Medal, the Bulldogs' annual best and fairest award.[6]

On 21 January 2011, he was announced as the new captain for the Western Bulldogs.[7] Boyd relished the Bulldogs captaincy and continued his good form and was rewarded with his second All-Australian selection and second Charlie Sutton Medal.

Boyd retained the captaincy when Brendan McCartney took over as coach for the 2012 AFL season, and as the emphasis was on list rejuvenation (Boyd by this time was an established AFL veteran), he was used more in run-with roles. An illustrative example of this was in Round 13 against Richmond in 2013; although the Bulldogs lost by 60 points, Boyd won his duel with Trent Cotchin, restricting the Richmond captain to 17 disposals while he accumulated twice as many disposals.[8] A broken cheekbone and calf injury limited Boyd to 13 games during the 2013 AFL season,[9] and at the end of the season, he relinquished the club captaincy to Ryan Griffen, who had captained the Bulldogs in 2013 during Boyd's absence.

Boyd's importance to the young playing group on and off the field was recognized with a new one-year contract in July 2014,[9] which he signed in September.[10] On October 9, Griffen, who had only been captain for one season, sensationally requested - and was later traded - to Greater Western Sydney in exchange for Tom Boyd. He revealed later that the pressure of captaincy and the extra media attention almost persuaded him to quit the sport altogether.[11] The following day, it was announced that McCartney had resigned as coach due to player discontent.[12] In November, Luke Beveridge was appointed as the Bulldogs' new senior coach[13] and fellow veteran Robert Murphy was appointed captain the following week.[14]

During the 2015 season, the Bulldogs' player list management had contemplated delisting Boyd along with fellow veteran Dale Morris at the end of the season. But Beveridge objected to the idea, insisting that both players still had much to contribute by way of experience.[15] The Bulldogs announced one-year extensions for both Boyd and Morris in the lead up to the Elimination Final against Adelaide, which the Bulldogs began well but ended up losing by seven points.

In 2016, Boyd was recognized for another outstanding season with his third selection in the All Australian team; he averaged 27 possessions per game with a kicking efficiency of 77 percent.[16] In addition, his leadership in defence was crucial in a season where the Bulldogs struggled with injury, losing captain Bob Murphy to a serious knee injury in Round 3, and Jason Johannisen, Easton Wood and Dale Morris all suffering hamstring injuries at various stages of the season. Despite the shocking run with injuries, the Bulldogs managed to qualify for the finals with 15 wins.

What followed was the most memorable month in the club's history. Finishing the home-and-away season in seventh position, the Bulldogs stunned the football world with a 47-point win over the previous season's runner-up West Coast in Perth, then triumphed in the Semi Final at the MCG against Hawthorn, the team which had won the last three premierships, before finally breaking their Preliminary Final hoodoo, downing premiership favourites Greater Western Sydney in an epic encounter to reach their first Grand Final since 1961. In one of the most sentimental Grand Finals in recent memory, the Bulldogs broke a 62-year drought, pulling away in the final minutes to claim the premiership and sparking a great outpouring of emotion from the football public.[17] Boyd was rated among the Bulldogs' best players,[18] gathering 27 disposals and rebounding from the opposition 50 seven times. Two weeks after the momentous victory, Boyd confirmed after some speculation that he would play on the following season by signing a new one-year contract.[18]

In 2017 in the Bulldogs' final pre-season match against Gold Coast, Boyd sustained an accidental injury when Peter Wright made contact with the elbow to his right ear. The impact caused a tear which required reconstructive surgery. After the surgery, Boyd trained in protective headgear in a bid to be ready for the Round 1 match at the MCG against Collingwood.[19] Boyd formally announced his retirement on August 8.[2] Boyd played the final game of his career in round 23 where he collected 33 disposals and 1 goal in a 9 point loss to Hawthorn