25 Greatest Bulldogs

[Bornadog]

Let's hope so given the cryptic post on WB socials.

That bullshit two sides to a coin, Collilngwood training facilities finish to the clip would probably be enough to make some members run in front of traffic!

It's done, don't worry

image.png

[Sedat]

Yeah Mate, I am not knocking him, he deserves his place in the Dogs history and I get all that, but we are talking about the GOAT Dogs of all time. If injury interrupted your career, your career was still was it was. I have no issue with Doug in the top tier, but still think West's career was immense, and because he was less likable than Doug, not a club man like Doug, West has copped a tax.

I'd have no problem with Westy in the top 5 - or Johnno for that matter. You can't fit them all in, but all names mentioned would be worthy.

I'd be sneaky happy with Dale Morris in there - he basically never lost a contest against a tall or small, except when he had a fractured leg playing against floppy Roo in 2009. What he did in 2016 finals with a fractured back is the stuff of legend.

[chef]

The Hawk isn't up for debate in my opinion. He was Footscray for a period. There was nothing else like him in my lifetime until C.Grant. I mean he has a wing named after him

West was stiff. He was certainly in the next 5.

Hawk was the best player in the league(imo) at one stage. Ahead of Westie for mine too.

[Scott2016]

The beef between him and Bevo (or Bains) must be pretty significant.

The better part of me hopes that he's just enjoying a year overseas away from footy - but it's a big honour not to attend, or even have Issy/his family representing him.

Was seen at Lamoros in South Melb a few weeks ago

[GVGjr]

Growing up in the late 70's/80's, Hawk was virtually our club through that period. He was a magnificent player who stood tall against the best of the era - and we're talking wingmen of the calibre of Flower, Dipper, Greig. He then refined his game to become a quality forward in later years after his knee reco robbed him of leg speed and also the ability to twist and turn on a dime.

Because he played the court jester on The Footy Show and had a clownish media profile, some people forgot what a brilliant player he was.

I've always wondered if the Footy Show didn't make him out to be a fool, and in some ways Hawk played along with it, how much more highly would the Hawk have been regarded by both our supporters and the footy public?
It was downright cruel the way the Footy Show, particularly Sam, portrayed him.

[Axe Man]

Sad truth as legend misses Western Bulldogs celebration

Fuel has been poured on a burning rumour surrounding an AFL legend’s relationship with his former football club.

Bulldogs legend Chris Grant was the big name missing from the Western Bulldogs’ centenary gala on Monday night.

On a special night for the football club, it was sad for many fans to see Grant did not attend the event as rumours of a rift between the former centre half-forward and club officials continue to swirl.

As first reported by Channel 9’s Tom Morris, Grant was not at the Whitten Oval gala where the club celebrated its 25 greatest players of the past 100 years.

It is a concerning update following months of rumours the 52-year-old fell out with sections of the club before his departure as football department boss last year.

According to Code Sports in March, Grant and Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge were not on speaking terms towards the end of the 2024 season.

Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains in February, 2024, said there had been “tensions in many quarters” but denied there was a rift between Grant and Beveridge, saying those reports had been “grossly exaggerated”.

However, it is clear the dynamic deteriorated, leading to Grant’s decision to step down in November — ending his 31 years with the club.

Since debuting with the club in 1990 as a 17-year-old, Grant developed into one of the club’s greatest players, twice winning the Charles Sutton Medal.

He was named captain in 2001. His retirement in 2007 was the end of an era.

Grant was loved on and off the field as a loyal club servant, reportedly turning down a monster contract offer from Port Adelaide to stay with the Bulldogs during his playing career.

He was appointed to the club’s board of directors in 2011 and moved into a role as football department boss in 2016 to oversee the men’s and women’s teams.

Both sides won premierships, in 2016 and 2018 respectively.

Grant’s decision to step down came after the Bulldogs created a new position in 2023 which created distance between him and senior coach Beveridge.

Former Geelong defender Matthew Egan was appointed as general manager of football operations following a review of the club’s football department.

It meant Beveridge no longer reported to Grant directly. According to The Age, Grant’s role shifted to focus more on the club’s AFLW program.

It is clear Grant’s messy split from the club cut deep, judging by his no-shows at recent club events.

“One person who isn’t here is Chris Grant, who had an acrimonious split with the club last year when he was the club football boss,” Morris said on 9News.

“He missed the Round 2 gala at the MCG. And he’s also missing tonight, saying he’s unavailable.”

Grant missed the club’s 100 year celebration — against Collingwood in March — with the club saying he was overseas at the time.

He played 300 games for the club and it would have been fitting for Grant to attend both of this year’s big events.

His farewell statement in 2024 showed how sad his separation from the club has been.

“I’ve spent over half of my life with the club as a player and administrator and will cherish the many memories we have created together at the Western Bulldogs,” Grant said.

“While the decision to pause and map out the next stage of my professional career has not been an easy one, I leave knowing the club is in a great position to succeed and write the next chapter in the amazing history of the red, white and blue.”

Six living Brownlow medallists, including recently distant 2008 medallist Adam Cooney, attended the March celebration where greats of the club were recognised before the game on the MCG playing surface.

Club champions, including Brad Johnson, Doug Hawkins, Rohan Smith, Scott West and Bob Murphy were present.

It has been a turbulent time at The Kennel in recent years with the departure of several football department figures, but the club has banked on stability in handing Beveridge a two-year contract extension through to the end of the 2027 season.

The Bulldogs have not won a final since 2021.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

I was almost 13 when Dougie did his knee. I was too young in the late 70's and early 80's to recall many from the Doggies outside of KT. My memory is largely drawn then from Scanlen footy card pictures of players. I never really saw much of us player until from 1983 onward.
I recall from 83-86 Dougie and Royal were our only main Victorian reps with occasional appearances from Fossie and Wallis from memory. So whilst I've always acknowledged Dougie was awesome I never really got to see his best over the sustained period from when he emerged in the late 70's, just a small sample.

However his 83-86 form was top shelf, and it wasn't like he was ordinary thereafter either; he just wasn't quite the same player. He played the best part of another decade post knee reco however!

[mighty_west]

I was talking to some Dogs people recently and when he did his knee in 86 the effect on my family and the greater Dogs community was profound. I still recall the eerie silence at the G (rd 17 v Pies to be exact) as he laid in a crumpled heap. Knee's were a bigger injury in those days if I recall correctly.

Knee injuries would finish careers back then, when KT did his he was never the same, was a shadow of himself at the Dees and one of the greatest Bulldogs i've seen play.

[mighty_west]

I'm a bit suprised Dempsey made the top 5, amazing ruckman but he played a lot of career at North, personally i would have had Templeton up there although i might be biased as he was my first Dogs superhero with the big 31 on the duffel coat, suprised Geoff Jennings didn't make the top 25 too, although his career was cut short but a brilliant player and captained the side for a few seasons.

[mighty_west]

I mean no disrespect, and to 10 for anyone would be an amazing achievement.
However, Doug Hawkins that high, and ahead of many, but mainly Scott West is just wrong for me.

Not too high for me, he was just brilliant and like a magician with the ball, i believe Malthouse was quoted as saying he remained the best player he ever coached, but i would have had him in 4th position with Westy not far behind probably 6th or 7th.

[Sedat]

I've always wondered if the Footy Show didn't make him out to be a fool, and in some ways Hawk played along with it, how much more highly would the Hawk have been regarded by both our supporters and the footy public?
It was downright cruel the way the Footy Show, particularly Sam, portrayed him.

I've got a different take on Dougie and his time on TFS/Ch 9. Whoever was managing Dougie at the time did him a grave disservice getting him to defect to shitty Ch 7 when his career profile and future earning capacity would have been absolutely maximised had he stayed at Ch 9. Instead he took the big money and was shafted by Ch 7 after a year or so. You needed a court jester type on the footy variety programs at the time and Dougie was a perfect fit - although I agree that it did detract from his amazing skill and career.

The real beneficiary of Dougie leaving TFS/Ch 9 was Billy Brownless, who seamlessly replaced him in that court jester role - I suppose Dougie's decision prevented Loinchop from rooting Raylene.

[Scott2016]

Hawk was the best player in the league(imo) at one stage. Ahead of Westie for mine too.

Not sure Wests behaviour off the field with players wives helps him

[SonofScray]

Sad re: Grant if true.

At the height of my frustrations with the Club and Bevo, I thought we needed blood and if it wasn’t the coach, it had to be Grant, and if it wasn’t them, it was Ameet, and if it wasn’t them it was KWW. Needed blood.

Imagine there is a narrative around Grant feeling, or being ostracised for taking a run at the stability of Bevo’s tenure. If he upset the Apple cart, I would be really pleased and it adds to his legacy for mine. No one else was going to do it.

Likely that he just needs some time away from the club to let the hurt settle and establish his identity away from it after so long in the mix. Hope he still feels the love and walks in the door again eventually.

[FrediKanoute]

Not too high for me, he was just brilliant and like a magician with the ball, i believe Malthouse was quoted as saying he remained the best player he ever coached, but i would have had him in 4th position with Westy not far behind probably 6th or 7th.

My top 5 would be:

5 - Dougie
4 - Johnno
3 - Grant
2 - EJ
1 - Bont

Toss up between 4 and 5. Honourable mention to Dempsey, KT, Westy, Wynd, Libba Snr, Sutton, Shultz and Murphy

[Jeanette54]

I was blown away that Charlie Sutton didn't make it into the top 5. Not so much as just a player, but as a leader and a contributor to the club. Maybe it's just down to the passage of time. As perhaps it was in the case of Alan Hopkins.