Some great memories from merantau and others. I knew EJ well. Without doubt Footscray's finest. Before joining the Bulldogs at 17 he had won both the Braybrook and District League's B and F on Saturday and similar both awards playing with Collingwood in the tough Sunday League competition. He started as a brilliant Centre Half Back for the Bulldogs and an absolute star at Centre Half Forward for Victoria over many years. Household names like Skilton and Aylett and State team mates revered his brilliance. In some ways his brilliance was sacrificed when he was forced to play as a ruck rover to help lift some average Footscray sides when he took over as Captain and Coach. Whitten and Schultz in both winning 5 Club best and fairests were clearly standouts throughout the '60's. EJ became a household name throughout Australia through his 30 year career with Adidas bringing him in contact with sports men and women of champion status. His State funeral probably the first ever afforded by a State Government in Victoria drew a church audience of 2,000 with a further 3,000 lining the streets to his burial place.Former champions such as Gary Ablett Snr, Brereton, Hawkins, Williams Weightman etc speak in awe of his influence as Chairman of Selectors where he became larger than life in the great State of Origin contests. He had a unique relationship with his son Ted Jnr and nothing gave EJ more pleasure than when young Ted was chosen to represent Victorian. Charlie Sutton rated Ted Whitten and Jack Collins the two finest Footscray players. Ted was the most gifted of League players you would ever see.he was the complete player.