Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

[Mantis]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

We came out after half time and kicked seven goals in the first ten minutes of the third quarter to blow them away. Brian Royal was everywhere and picking up kicks at will. I still reckon it was the most dominant and devastating (for Essendon) burst of football I've ever seen us put on.

The replay of that game was shown on re-run at my place for a good 5 years, especially in '89.

Choco's goal on the stroke of half time was a cracker.... Takes centre tap from 'Polly', a couple of bounces and then bangs one home on the left from 55m.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

After the games, listening to the various radio stations depending upon who covered us that day,

Usually bloody 3DB.


"We've played 29 minutes in the last quarter, scores are level. It a long bomb to the top of the goalsquare and ...
... racing at Rosehill"

[westdog54]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

I was having vague recollections of a game against Melbourne in the early 90s that we won by 100+ points. Was probably the biggest win I saw at WO.

Some digging around with my Footyinfo App found the following:

Round 13, 1992:
FSC 6.3 11.6 15.9 25.11 161
MEL 3.2 6.3 7.5 8.6 54

Goals: Del-Re 7 Royal 6, A Campbell C Grant 3, Coleman Hawkins Kellett MacPherson Smith Wallis

Baxter 28 Kicks 7 Handballs, Atkins 24/6, Coleman 18/9, 15 marks.

The one thing that stands out in the memory banks (I was 7) was Choco Royal's opponent giving away a 50 late in the game to take him to the goalsquare at the Geelong Road end.

My brother was keen to leave, so toward the end he was saying 'Come on Siren'. The lady next to us said 'Bugger the siren, I'll have another four quarters of this!'

The other thing I just spotted was that Jim Stynes had 31 touches, 22 hitouts and 7 marks. Bloody hell its easy to forget what a good player he was.

[EasternWest]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

Anyone know the people that added a Whitten Oval memory to their favourites today?

[Bornadog]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

From the Club website:

The number one moment chosen by Bulldogs fans and supporters?

* The spirited Fight-back Rally of 1989 when 10,000 fans helped stave off the VFL imposed merger with Fitzroy.

* Last game at the Whitten Oval in 1997 which saw thousands poor into the ground to say farewell;
* Footscray legend Ted Whitten’s last game coming in at no three;
* at number four Kelvin Templeton’s 15 goal haul to secure the ground record;
* Whitten handing over the Club games record to champion Dougie Hawkins rounding out the top five.


Story Here

[GetDimmaBack]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

So many good memories posted here!

One in particular for me: I was at Ted's last game. Loved the celebrations after the game out on the ground.

Also remember the days when half the cheer squad sat in the stand. Sensational to watch the streamers!

Standing between the stands was always cool. Bit of a fortress in those days, every bit as intimidating as the "animal enclosure" at Moorabbin.

We (me, and the boys I lived near) were only about 10 mins by bus from the ground, so we went regularly. Lots of money from bottle collecting, squeezing onto the bus going home without paying so we could have fish & chips from the Beachley St shops, having little old ladies feed us at half time(usually milo & biscuits)...

We saw the footy from time to time, too!

[Bornadog]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

Bump

My earliest memory of going to the ground was in the 1960's when we lived around the corner. My dad had to work most Saturdays but we always went to home matches. I remember sitting on his shoulders trying to watch the game, and that's all I can recall from that day.

To sit on his shoulders I must have been very very young.

[SonofScray]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

Was down thee yesterday with my parents, I really love spending time at the ground. Even with all the changes and the time that has passed you can look out and feel, hear and see everything that has happened there. Stand on the hill at the scoreboard end and close your eyes and listen to the crowd cheer, the siren sound, the chime before a PA announcing XDV 981 has left their headlights on etc.

Its a great feeling. Very grounding.

One thing that came to mind was a Darren Pritchard (Hawks) shot to either tie, or win a game in the mid 90s against us. I was on the fence near the away team race and can't remember why.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

I can't remember the year, I remember I was young-ish. 90's early??? We hadn't won in about 2-3 months and we pulled out a victory. Everyone stormed the ground on the final siren, I somehow ended down the race in the mob, players were going nuts, screaming sons of the SCRAY. Ilija Grgic was going nuts, threw his glove into the mob (I didn't get it ).

Not even the feared black bombers could stop us.

Awesome.

[Twodogs]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

To sit on his shoulders I must have been very very young.

You'd hope so.

[Twodogs]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

Two words.

Can Bar. Anyone who recognises those two words knows what I mean. No better place to watch football from ever.

[Bornadog]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

Two words.

Can Bar. Anyone who recognises those two words knows what I mean. No better place to watch football from ever.

Great view from there, loved it.

[westdog54]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

I can't remember the year, I remember I was young-ish. 90's early??? We hadn't won in about 2-3 months and we pulled out a victory. Everyone stormed the ground on the final siren, I somehow ended down the race in the mob, players were going nuts, screaming sons of the SCRAY. Ilija Grgic was going nuts, threw his glove into the mob (I didn't get it ).

Not even the feared black bombers could stop us.

Awesome.

Not 96 was it?

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

Not 96 was it?

Could've been. I thought I was younger than that... Maybe I'm getting old and getting foggy???

[Twodogs]

Re: Top 20 Whitten Oval Memories

From the Club website:

The number one moment chosen by Bulldogs fans and supporters?

* The spirited Fight-back Rally of 1989 when 10,000 fans helped stave off the VFL imposed merger with Fitzroy.

* Last game at the Whitten Oval in 1997 which saw thousands poor into the ground to say farewell;
* Footscray legend Ted Whitten’s last game coming in at no three;
* at number four Kelvin Templeton’s 15 goal haul to secure the ground record;
* Whitten handing over the Club games record to champion Dougie Hawkins rounding out the top five.


Story Here

I was there for each one of those. Remember Ted flick passing the ball to Doug to signify that the record had been passed to him?