Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

[GVGjr]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

The fightback rally. Turning up, not sure if there would be 50 or 60 people there, and seeing the 10000 others who weren't going to let the club die.

Beating Essendon in 1985 when they seemed unbeatable. 30 degree day in April, crowd packed in, after so many miserable years, realizing we had a team that could play finals. Later that year, beating Hawthorn to tie down 2nd spot..Steve McPherson kicking a wet heavy ball 50 meters to do it.

The first time I took each of my babies, dressed to the nines in their size zero bulldogs jumpers to the ground (sometimes they wish I hadn't)

The atmosphere at training, whenever we've made the finals

Standing where my father and grandfather once stood to barrack for them ...

[LostDoggy]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

- Ted's flick pass to Hawk.
- The old cheer squad on the wing - big David resting four unwrapped meat pies on his stomach.
- A game vs Sydney in the 90's, very low scoring draw on a miserable muddy day. Sanford Wheeler was undetectable.
- Sitting next to Kolyniuks grandmother up in the old stand.
- Rod Grinter knocking a dogs player out right in front of me, man he got him good (Wallace?).
- The awesome time the social club seemed to have on that balcony. Being too young to know why!
- Fitzroy playing home games there. Sad.
- Watching Chris Grant as a 17 year old kick 50 goals.
- Wayne Carey and Chris Grant playing on the same ground.
- Hawthorn player (Pritchard??) run into an open goal to win the game, and miss.
- The footballs being kicked into the crowd.
- The band doing laps of the oval collecting donations.

I could go on forever! I spent a lot of time there in the late 80's and 90's, and have thoroughly enjoyed revisiting these memories.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

I unfortunately didn't go much.
- My dad is a bit of a tight arse and most of time we went I'm sure he tried to go after half time to get in for free. Thank god we lived in Sunshine or he may never have bothered.
- I remember watching the kids collect cans because, a couple of my mates used to go every week and I was watching out for them.
- One of my best mates from primary school was in the Hyde Street band. (he always complained about the money dinting his trumpet) I laughed everytime he told that story.
-Standing on the Doug Hawkins wing which wasn't a dry area (was it?) and watching people drinking.
- Also remember being on that wing more than once and seeing a couple of good punch ons. On the field that is.
- My sister took me down for some kids day there during the summer holidays or school holidays. Elle McFeast(Lisbeth Gore) was there think she arrived in a helicopter and forgive me if I'm wrong but I also remember seeing Lou Richards there and he was flanked by Tony Jones but maybe my memory's slipping.
- I took my above mentioned dad to the pies game the other week which would be his first dogs game in 20 years. I supposedly was at the game where Neil Sachs suffered his unfortunate fate. He reckons we left before it happened. I can't validate it as I don't remember but thats something you wouldn't forget so I trust he wasn't lying.
- I'll add dad's memory of the door security bloke (David i think) at Big W Highpoint. He had a usual spot and I must say I remebered the face whenever I ever first saw him at Highpoint. Big W hasn't beeen there forever people. I remember Highpoint being Target and Myer and not much else.

[Remi Moses]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

Ahh The memories
Unfortunately missed the last game (in the UK) massive disappointment
Missed the record score
The worst memory was I still remember The Neil Sachse incident
Losing to Melb in 87 ( seeing all those bandwagoner Melb fans)

Good Memories
The Navy Cheats getting one goal more than they should have(awful decision)
1985 home games seeing for the first time our ground being packed
1994 win against Melb to secure a finals berth (getting revenge for 87)
Jockeying with the pensioners to get in the ground first in the early 80's
Watching the reserves and seniors, getting cold and wet and Loving it

[LostDoggy]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

Speaking of memories, it was good to see the Hyde St band at the ground on Sunday.

It would help if they gave them some microphones.

Agreed!
Was funny to see the MC hold his mic up to the band during their performance!

[Desipura]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

Agreed!
Was funny to see the MC hold his mic up to the band during their performance!

Where was the big blanket and stones?

[Missing Dog]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

Ahhh memories. Most of mine already said:
- Hyde St Band
- Record score against saints when KT kicked 15
- Early to mid 80s in general when thanks to Shane O Sullivan we had some good recruits (Beasley, Royal, Hansen, Wallis, Purser) and started winning games with the Pieman getting on the end of a few
- last game
- Grinter wacking Wallace and breaking his jaw - the beginning of video reports
- Foster having his leg broken by a trip - the begginning of tripping reports and i think the beginning of the end for Fossie
- Keeping Carlton to a goal
- DOugies wing in the Malthouse days when kick outs involved everyone running to the EJ Whitten side of the ground except the Hawk and his opponent. Kick it to the Hawk who would of course beat his opponent one way or the other and we'd be on our way.
- Knowing my Uncle was gonna have a big day on the hill because he would buy me a seat in the EJ Whitten stand.
- The day the loud mouth looney who stood round from us started a fight with a nearby fellow bulldogs supporter. In their wrestle they fell onto a little old lady which led to every bloke in the nearby vicinity grabbing the looney and, well lets just say he left the ground immediately! The old lady was ok too - angry but ok.

It was a different game and a different world at the Whitten Oval.

[Bornadog]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

Does any one remember a game against Essendon in the 70's when Don McKenzie (of Essendon), broke Barry Rounds leg. It was in the forward pocket, scoreboard end. The fans down there didn't like it and showered the ground with cans. I have never seen so many cans thrown at players in my life.

[Missing-Dog]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

Takes me back to 1984 , Round 17 or 18 I think V Essendon , just rained and rained and rained , neither side kicked a goal before HT , lady in front of us spilt her hot chocolate and burnt her hand when Brian Royal kicked a goal , so cold so wet , I had the week off school as I got the flu

.

I remember that day also. The Bulldogs Little League Team kicked a goal before either of the seniors teams. The crowd went nuts. Lost by a couple of points I think.

[always right]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

I remember that day also. The Bulldogs Little League Team kicked a goal before either of the seniors teams. The crowd went nuts. Lost by a couple of points I think.

By memory the game ended up something like 5 goals to 4 with us losing. John Bennett kicked a couple for us at full forward and Merv Neagle had a ripper battle with Doug Hawkins all day.

Never stopped raining but strangely enough was one of the most enjoyable games I've seen at the Whitten Oval. Had you engrossed all day.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

By memory the game ended up something like 5 goals to 4 with us losing. John Bennett kicked a couple for us at full forward and Merv Neagle had a ripper battle with Doug Hawkins all day.

Never stopped raining but strangely enough was one of the most enjoyable games I've seen at the Whitten Oval. Had you engrossed all day.

I think it was 3 each wasn't it?

[LostDoggy]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

Carlton only scoring 1 goal was a great memory ...... and they only got that goal in the last minute.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

Just saw on Facebook that later this week people can vote on their Top 20 Memories of the Whitten Oval.

Thought it would be a good idea to see what WOOFER's who are old enough to remember are able to come up with.

Off the top of my head & in no particular order are:

- Kicking 33.15.213 against St.Kilda.

- Neil Sasche injuring his neck.

- Keeping Carlton goal less until the final minute.

- Doug Hawkins returning after injuring his knee.

- Glenn Coleman snapping the point post.

- Doug Hawkins breaking Teddy's games record.

- Teddy's last game.

- Simon Beasley kicking the winning goal v Collingwood.

- The final game at the ground.

Can tick every box but Teddys last game beating Collingwood and Carlton one team one goal are my favourites

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

Match against West Coast where Kretiuk, Southern and Ellis roughing up a young Michael Gardiner

Fight Back Rally

Carlton being kept goalless until the 4th quarter in the wet

Last game at the ground

Running onto the field after the match to give the players a pat on the back, and playing kick to kick after a match

Throwing coins to the Hyde Street band at half time

Seeing beer cans littered everywhere at the end of a game

The Hawk and his wing

85 and 92 were highlights especially...

[LostDoggy]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

Doug Hawkins breaking EJ's record.

I remember as a young fella sitting right behind a Richard Osborne barrel, was a massive kick from the bench area of half forward that went straight through the middle.