Murph's article this week talking about the HOF event...

'Club is more powerful than any individual'
The Age | BOB MURPHY | June 3, 2010

'HIT 'em hard, hit 'em bloody often.''

Saturday night was the inaugural Footscray-Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame function, and it was a beauty. Fourteen-hundred people turned out to honour the first inductees. Our champions. But in reality, the night was about a lot, lot more. In effect, it was a history lesson - on Footscray, football, culture and unity.

I take my hat off to the many people who orchestrated the night. As much as they would have planned meticulously to create a night to remember, the mark it leaves on people so often comes down to whether there is a bit of magic in the air.

Our newest official legend, Charlie Sutton, took care of the magic in his sermon to the red, white and blue mass. The best speeches I've ever heard are from people who put their vulnerabilities on display - it's these weak points that make us human and give the words a bit more credibility.

When Charlie arrived in a wheelchair, it knocked the wind out of everyone. Charlie was vulnerable, no doubt about it, but he was there because he cares. Looking more frail than we'd ever seen him, he took to the stage and spoke with a passion as big as the room itself.

''Hit 'em hard, hit 'em bloody often,'' he cried.

You knew you were witnessing an iconic moment, something that would stay with you forever.

Our two legends on the night were Charlie and, of course, the great E.J. Whitten. E.J's shadow looms large out in Footscray, and it made me think that with E.J. being such a huge part of Footscray and football, that we (as in Bulldogs' people) have shared him with you all.

But Charlie is all ours. He is so dear to us, perhaps because he - more than anyone else in the club's history - put the team before himself. By simply being there on Saturday night, he showed he still does.

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