Who was the head coach when you started supporting the dogs?

[Uninformed]

I distinctively remember Teddy Whitten being captain coach , rubbing opponents faces into the muddy whitten oval .
I was a big fan of Dave Darcy , very elegant footballer lovely mark and kick , i remember many a time Darcy was moved forward from his usual key back post , to win games for Footscray , and genetically he has been fabulous , fathering Luke , and in turn Luke Fathering Sam , Will and i think there is another Darcy .
Loved watching Johnny Jillard the rubber man fabulous half back flanker , Ray Walker was a quality backman strong mark , only played 73 games for Footscray then left to coach in Tazi .
Bob Spargo very clever half forward who moved into the center and produced very good football for Footscray ,also moved in his prime to captain coach West Perth , played 80 odd games for the doggies John Schultz the gentle giant was only 193 cm tall in thoes days a giant but these days wouldn't be able to compete with the monsters around now , Schultz won the Brownlow and Footscrays B&F 5 times i think , and of course everyone remembers Merv Hobbs mark of the year in the 1961 prelim , was a very handy goal sneak when resting forward , was only 23 when a preseason injury ended his budding career .
So yeah very fond memories of thoes guys also had the pleasure of being witness to guys starting their VFL/AFL carree's , the likes of Hawkins , Quinlan , Round , Bubba Smith , Dennis Collins , Jennings , Templeton , Jimmy Edmond , Alan Stoneham , Beasley , Mcpherson Steve and Rod , Royal , Foster , Dempsey and of course Brad Johnson the list goes on and on , but im proud to say i watched each and every player there and many more play their 1st games in the red white and blue colours of Footscray / Western Bulldogs .
Sorry that was a bit long winnded but the memories just kept flooding back .

Not long winded to me. I could listen to stories about the likes of those forever! Johnny Schultz a tad shorter than Bont and the tallest of the top three ruck men of of the time. The great pairings of Schultz and Hobbs, Farmer and Goggin, Nichols and Gallagher. Big Nic was 189!

[Uninformed]

Ted was the first coach I remember, and my childhood hero. I also well remember the players you mention above. John Jillard was a particular favourite, a heart and soul player if ever there was one. I think it was very regrettable that he was overlooked for the recently named "Greatest Bulldogs" selection. Others I remember from that era were, Bernie Lee, Charlie Evans, John Hoiles, Graham and Barry Ion, Ian Bryant and (maybe a bit later) Ron McGowan, Ivan Marsh and "Doc" Mannix.

With reference to coaches, I will always remember Alan Joyce's sacking and the comments of one of the fearsome old ladies who sat around the boundary seats. With the appropriate English accent, "It were a bloody shame what they did to 'ím, he was a bloody gentleman, he was".

Some great names and memories. You didn't get in the way of Johnny Hoiles!!

[Twodogs]

Twodogs enters the chat and tells the story about how he took a screamer in kick to kick after training, and Royce Hart told him it's the best mark he's ever seen!

you left the bit out where I knocked myself unconscious when I returned to earth

Apart from that it's an absolute 100% true story. The highlight of my life.

[Twodogs]

Who the hell is that

Edit: Gee I would be 100 if I remembered him

So I'm guessing you haven't read Through and Through the recently released history of the club?

Con McCarthy was the captain of Collingwood and we made him an offer in 1923 to become the best paid footballer in history to that point for him to come across and captain coach us when we were still in the VFA. He paid our investment in him back in spades by coaching us to two premierships and winning the Champions of Victoria match v Essendon in 1924 that ensured our entry into the VFL. He is easily one of the most influential men in the history of our club

[GVGjr]

They were Mother and Daughter and were seen at every training session

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You can reminisce here, with the full film

Jenny still comes to training around once per week with a small group of friends. They're all lovely people

[Dogs 24/7]

Bob Rose was the coach when I first started following the Bulldogs. Bill Goggin was the coach when I went to my first VFL game (1977).

Same here. They good old days

[G-Mo77]

Possibly Hampshire. I did have to look it up but his name does jog a memory.

[Bornadog]

Possibly Hampshire. I did have to look it up but his name does jog a memory.

Bluey was a Geelong ruckman who came to the club and played 111 games. Mid way through 1982, he retired and became Coach after we sacked Royce Hart who was possibly a worst coach than Peter Rhode.