Bulldogs By the Numbers

[merantau]

So that concludes # 23. Next #24 and we have had some very good players wear this number.

[Twodogs]

He and his dad were both good cricketers with Yarraville in the sub district. His dad delivered the bread when I lived in Yarraville as a kid.

Lee ended his career at Yarraville in the VFA but he didn't play many games due to a particularly bad knee injury that just couldn't be fixed.

I can remember playing cricket against him. You're right he was a very good player.

[EasternWest]

From '10 to '18 Premiership Hero Jordan Roughead played 138 games as our #23. Played as a key defender early on and later on in the ruck. When the whips were cracking in 2016 he really stood up to be counted. He had some telling moments in the Finals and to make it to the line for the GF and play so well was a testament to his character.

Post 2016 saw him battle injury which was very frustrating for all concerned. A lot of people were unhappy when he went to Collingwood - me included.

Agree and disagree. Felt like Jordan had run his race at the Dogs.

Happy to see him getting on at the pies. Great guy, big part of our glory.

[merantau]

Jim Gallagher from Assumption College Kilmore played 151 games in the #24. He was a key part of our champion defensive unit that was integral to our breakthrough Flag win.

Jim never kicked a goal - but he stopped plenty! He celebrated his 90th Birthday on March 17. Was selected on the bench in the Bulldogs Team of the Century.

[merantau]

Jack Slattery from Eaglehawk had a 4 year career and wore #24 for the last two of them. He was a small fast-leading full forward and kicked 41 goals from his 32 games. He played in our '61 GF.

[merantau]

Gary Dempsey was a tremendous footballer. One of the greatest ruckmen ever he debuted in 1967 wearing #24. He played 207 games and won six B&Fs.

From Wikipedia:

"Dempsey made his debut for Footscray in 1967. In 1969, he spent six weeks in hospital after being burnt by a bushfire near his home in Truganina and was told he would never play football again. Despite this, he defied the odds to return to the playing field and then win his first club best-and-fairest award in 1970. Dempsey would win the club best-and-fairest award five more times, underlining his importance to the underachieving Bulldogs.

Although he had won a number of individual awards, Dempsey yearned for team success and signed with North Melbourne in 1979, winning the club best-and-fairest in his first year there. He played out his career at the Kangaroos, playing 122 games for them, and retired in 1984. Dempsey was named an emergency in the Kangaroos Team of the Century.[1]

Dempsey finished in the top 10 in the Brownlow Medal 13 times. He was named an All-Australian Team member at the 1972 Perth carnival.

In 1996 Dempsey was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

He was named as first ruckman in the Footscray's Team of the Century.

Player honours:

Brownlow Medal 1975Runner-up Brownlow Medal 1970Second highest Brownlow votesFootscray best and fairest 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977North Melbourne best and fairest 1979Footscray captain 1971–1972, 1977–1978Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the CenturyNorth Melbourne/Kangaroos Team of the CenturyAll-Australian 1972Victorian representative (22 games, 8 goals)Represented Australia in "The Galahs" Australian Football World Tour 1968.

All up he played 329 games. When I was in Yr 11 in 1965 I played against him once. He was at Altona North Tech, I was at Tottenham. He dominated the game.

Best pack mark going around in the late 60s and 70s.

[merantau]

From '83 to '96 Steve Wallis played 261 quality games in the #24. A determined, tough half back and occasional midfielder he kicked 57 goals, played for Victoria 3 times and captained the club in 1989. A great player for us.

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

From '10 to '18 Premiership Hero Jordan Roughead played 138 games as our #23. Played as a key defender early on and later on in the ruck. When the whips were cracking in 2016 he really stood up to be counted. He had some telling moments in the Finals and to make it to the line for the GF and play so well was a testament to his character.

Post 2016 saw him battle injury which was very frustrating for all concerned. A lot of people were unhappy when he went to Collingwood - me included.

Jordan Roughead grew up as a passionate Bulldogs supporter with his Father and uncle who was Jared Roughead’s father, both playing with our Reserves team. He will be best remembered for coming back from our 2016 Preliminary Final after a serious eye injury, to play such a fine game in our 2016 Premiership. Always disappointing to see our players be moved on and he continues to hold down the key defensive post at Collingwood.

[bornadog]

Jordan Roughead grew up as a passionate Bulldogs supporter with his Father and uncle who was Jared Roughead’s father, both playing with our Reserves team. He will be best remembered for coming back from our 2016 Preliminary Final after a serious eye injury, to play such a fine game in our 2016 Premiership. Always disappointing to see our players be moved on and he continues to hold down the key defensive post at Collingwood.

Good luck to Gardner and hope he does well, but at this stage, Jordy would be handy at FB

[Mofra]

From '83 to '96 Steve Wallis played 261 quality games in the #24. A determined, tough half back and occasional midfielder he kicked 57 goals, played for Victoria 3 times and captained the club in 1989. A great player for us.

Wallis also sparked the famous brawl against West Coast where Daniel Southern held Sumich in the sleeper hold.
Brett heady kicked 10 goals against us in the previous game, and kept up his "that's 1, that's 2 etc" after every goal.

Wallis saw a chance in the follow up match and absolutely cleaned him up. As West Coast players ran over to remonstrate, Wally just said "that's 1"

[merantau]

Wallis also sparked the famous brawl against West Coast where Daniel Southern held Sumich in the sleeper hold.
Brett heady kicked 10 goals against us in the previous game, and kept up his "that's 1, that's 2 etc" after every goal.

Wallis saw a chance in the follow up match and absolutely cleaned him up. As West Coast players ran over to remonstrate, Wally just said "that's 1"

Heady was one of those players that I found really easy to dislike. And now I know why.

[merantau]

From '96 - '98 Brad Wira played 61 games for us in the #24 before going back to Freo. He was good value for us.

[merantau]

In 2015 Shane Biggs arrived from Sydney where in 2 years he played a handful of games.

He had four years with us in the #24 before retiring. He played 57 games for us and saved his best for the GF where in the last quarter he un-rolled his party trick "For the Ages".

In this trick you trans-substantiate into another entity entirely. You look like Shane Biggs, you are still wearing #24, but you have become the world's first organic wall - The Wall of Biggs - through which the enemy cannot pass.

Shane Biggs - Bulldog Warrior - Hero

#Never Forget. The Wall of Biggs. They shall not pass.

https://youtu.be/sXftCtcv5PU

[EasternWest]

#Never Forget

[merantau]

From '50 to '58 the great Herb Henderson, from Mildura Imperials, played 130 games in the #25. He was the only full back to have the measure of the great John Coleman - Coleman kicked 12 on debut so he was no mug. In their 5 encounters the best Coleman could manage was 4 goals.

Herb was quick off the mark and was not afraid to play in front. His teaming with back pocket Wally Donald was uncanny. They were key figures in a formidable defence.

Herb was selected full back in the Bulldogs Team of the Century. He will turn 91 in September this year.