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Find your Sport Nation frequencyTop Dogs: The best 25 Western Bulldogs in history
Matthew Donald • July 18th, 2025 5:00 pm
The Western Bulldogs are celebrating 100 years in 2025.
The club will officially release their top 25 players in order at an event on Monday, July 21.
To pay tribute to the Doggies, we've put together our own list below:
25 - Matthew Boyd
Games: 292 (2003-17)Goals: 86Achievements: 2016 Premiership Player, Captain (2011-13), x3 Best and Fairest (2009, 2011, 2012), x3 All-Australian (2009, 2010, 2016), x1 Night Premiership Player (2010), x2 International Rules Representative (2008, 2010), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member
One of the Bulldogs’ best success stories, Matthew Boyd started his career at the club on the Rookie List, penned in as a dour defender. By the end of it, he was one of its most dominant midfielders. Boyd’s move into the midfield came via the arrival of Rodney Eade, where his gut-running and inside work added greatly to the Bulldogs’ depth. Once several senior Bulldogs midfielders had retired, Boyd stood up to the challenge of leading the club’s midfield ranks, winning the club’s Best and Fairest three times and winning consecutive All-Australian honours as the Bulldogs reached the Preliminary Final three years in a row. He was also elevated to club captain following the retirement of Brad Johnson. Just as many thought his career was slowing down after the arrival of Luke Beveridge as coach, Boyd reinvented himself again, becoming a calming influence across half-back - the same position where he started his career. The move was a big hit, with Boyd winning his third All-Australian selection in 2016, and being one of the Bulldogs’ best players in their Grand Final victory. By the time he retired in 2017, Boyd held the record for the most finals wins as a Bulldog (8).
24 - Tony Liberatore
Games: 283 (1986-2002)Goals: 95Achievements: x1 Brownlow Medal (1990), x1 Best and Fairest (1991), x1 All Australian (1990) Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Interchange), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member
Tony Liberatore was the very epitome of a Bulldogs player: tough, ragged, combative and fearless. What he may have lacked in height he more than made up for in fight. It was that aggression and refusal to yield that saw him become a fan favourite among the Bulldogs faithful for over 15 years. Struggling to establish himself in the side during the first few seasons of his career, his breakthrough moment came in 1990, when he won the Brownlow Medal, despite missing the last three games of the season. As his career evolved, Liberatore developed a reputation for being one of the best tacklers in the game, regularly breaking records in that statistic. Despite often drawing the ire of opposition players and supporters for his, at times, unsportsmanlike antics, he also demanded much of himself, and his powers of recovery were remarkable - he once famously recovered from an ACL tear after just 16 weeks - and the tenacity he displayed over his career was rewarded with a spot in the club’s Team of the Century.
23 - Steve Wallis
Games: 261 (1983-96)Goals: 57Achievements: Captain (1989), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member, State Representative (Vic)
A player whose record doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality of the footballer, Wallis was the core cog in the Bulldogs engine room for well over a decade. A defensive-minded player, Wallis often bore the responsibility of assuming roles for the good of the team. His 1985 campaign was one of his best, securing a top-five finish in the Brownlow Medal as Footscray reached a Preliminary Final. He led admirably when appointed captain of the club in 1989 - a year when the club were on the brink of extinction - and helped play a crucial role for the Bulldogs in the early 1990s, helping guide the next generation through as the Bulldogs developed into a strong team throughout the decade.
22 - Wally Donald
Games: 205 (1946-58)Goals: 1Achievements: 1954 Premiership Player, Captain (1956), x1 Best and Fairest (1949), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Half Back), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member, State Representative (Vic)
Described by Charlie Sutton as the ‘captain of the backline’, Wally Donald was one of Footscray’s most important players in the 1950s, developing a partnership with full-back Herb Henderson that helped give Footscray its reputation for being one of the best backlines in the game’s history. Ever-reliable, Donald’s defensive discipline held him in good stead as he regularly subdued his direct opponent, but also displayed excellent skill, particularly with his overhead marking and long kicking. Vice-Captain for several seasons, he played a crucial role as acting captain late in the 1954 season while Charlie Sutton was out injured, including leading the club to victory in the Second Semi-Final against Geelong. He finished runner-up in the club’s Best and Fairest that year (for the third year running) after winning the award in 1949, and was named in the Bulldogs Team of the Century.
21 - Robert Murphy
Games: 312 (2000-17)Goals: 183Achievements: Captain (2015-17), x2 All-Australian (2011, 2015), x1 Night Premiership Player (2010), AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match Representative, Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member
A skilled talent and a graceful kick, Robert Murphy was the perfect combination of the class of a modern-day footballer with the know-how of an old-fashioned one. His proficiency to hit a target with either foot was an easily recognisable trait that saw him start his career in defence until the introduction of Rodney Eade as coach saw him become an unlikely star at centre-half forward, regularly being of the best marks in the competition, despite standing at just 187cm. Injuries did hold him back early in his career, most notably suffering an ACL tear in 2006, before a move back into defence saw him return to his absolute best, collecting his first All-Australian blazer in 2011. Perhaps the most crucial moment of his career came at the end of 2014 when he volunteered to take up the role of captain following Ryan Griffen’s departure. The partnership he established with new coach Luke Beveridge saw the Bulldogs undergo a remarkable transformation that saw them win a drought-breaking Premiership within two years. Unfortunately for Murphy, he would be forced to watch the celebrations from the sidelines, after suffering a season-ending knee injury early in the 2016 season.
20 - Tom Liberatore
Games: 235 * (2011-)Goals: 85Achievements: 2016 Premiership Player, x1 Best and Fairest (2014)
While there have been several players on this list whose records do not do justice to their own performances, Tom Liberatore is perhaps the biggest victim of all. For over a decade, he has been the centrepiece to the Bulldogs’ engine room, regularly being the man to help turn the tide with his elite clearance work and tenacious ferocity at the contest. He has had his challenges injury-wise, suffering two ACL tears, a syndesmosis injury that he somehow managed to overcome on the eve of the 2016 finals series, and a scary absence due to multiple concussions last year, but has always found a way to overcome every hurdle thrown his way.
19 - Jack Collins
Games: 153 (1950-58)Goals: 385Achievements: 1954 Premiership Player, x1 League Leading Goalkicker (1954), x1 Coleman Medal (1957), x2 Best and Fairest (1951, 1952), x5 Leading Goalkicker (1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Forward Pocket), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member, State Representative (Vic)
Footscray’s much-vaunted defence of the 1950s has featured regularly in this list. But while the Bulldogs back six regularly kept them in games, Jack Collins was at the other end winning them, with his excellent marking abilities and his deadly accurate goalkicking. Collins won the club’s best and fairest award in his second and third seasons at the club, and by 1953 he had become the club’s dominant key forward, winning the club’s goalkicking in five of the next six seasons, including topping the league goalkicking table twice. His best season came in 1954, when he booted a career-high 84 goals for the campaign, including 7 in Footscray’s Grand Final win over Melbourne. At the time, it was tied for the most goals scored by any player in a Grand Final.
18 - George Bisset
Games: 166 (1963-72)Goals: 288Achievements: x1 Best and Fairest (1963), x5 Leading Goalkicker (1963, 1964, 1967, 1969, 1970), x4 Night Premiership Player (1963, 1964, 1967, 1970), State Representative (Vic), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Forward Pocket), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member
What he lacked in size (standing at just 168cm) “Wee Georgie” Bisset more than made up for with his skill and energy across 10 seasons at the Bulldogs, establishing himself as one of the best small men in the game, and becoming a fan favourite among the adoring Western Oval crowd. While Footscray generally struggled during that decade, Bisset was the man Footscray regularly turned to as both their star player, and their most reliable route to goal, winning the club’s goalkicking award on five occasions. Bisset’s best season came in 1969, where he finished runner-up in the Brownlow Medal by one vote. Bisset was reported against Carlton in Round 14 that season, but although he was cleared, the rules of the day stated that he was ineligible to receive votes for that game - a match where he recorded 31 disposals and booted six goals for Footscray.
17 - Scott Wynd
Games: 237 (1998-2000)Goals: 31Achievements: Captain (1994-2000), x1 Brownlow Medal (1992), x1 All Australian (1992), x1 Best and Fairest (1992), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Interchange), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member
A man-mountain of a ruckman, Scott Wynd was Footscray’s premier tap ruck for the entirety of the 1990s and was consistently rated as one of the league’s best big men during that time. His sizeable frame was regularly put to good use and often played a key role in helping Footscray win the midfield battle. His best campaign came in 1992, when he won the Brownlow Medal, an All-Australian blazer, and his only best-and-fairest award for the club. His inspirational service to the club was consolidated when he was named captain in 1994, an honour that he held until his retirement in 2000.
16 - Harry Hickey
Games: 174 (1937-48)Goals: 169Achievements: Captain (1947), x3 Best and Fairest (1939, 1957, 1947), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Wing), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member
Despite being named on the wing in the club’s Team of the Century, it was in the centre of the ground that Harry Hickey built a reputation during his playing career, establishing himself as one of the finest midfielders in the league, and comfortably one of Footscray’s biggest stars. He started his career at half-forward after being recruited from South Footscray, but a move into the middle brought about instant results, as he quickly became renowned as an elite goalkicking midfielder, whose performances were strong enough to see him represent Victoria on two occasions - once either side of World War II. He finished runner-up in the 1939 Brownlow Medal, but did win the club’s best and fairest award for the first time that year, however, and would go on to win it twice more in his career, including in his final season at the club.
15 - Simon Beasley
Games: 154 (1982-89)Goals: 575Achievements: x1 Coleman Medal (1985), x7 Leading Goalkicker (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Full Forward), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member, State Representative (WA)
With 575 goals, no player in 100 years of V/AFL competition has scored more goals for Footscray than Simon Beasley. Arriving from West Australia in 1982, Beasley was immediately thrown into a difficult situation; being forced to play at full-forward in a Bulldogs side that would go on to finish bottom of the ladder with just three wins to its name. Despite this, Beasley proved to be a shining light in a dismal year, booting 82 goals against all odds to take out the club’s goalkicking award. He would achieve this feat for the next six years straight, with his final tally of seven a club record. From both a team and an individual standpoint, Beasley’s best campaign came in 1985, where he became the third Bulldog to win the Coleman Medal, and just the second Bulldog to kick 100 goals in a season, finishing the year with 105 as the Bulldogs reached the Preliminary Final. His form would hold for the remainder of the decade before back injuries forced him into retirement in 1989. Beasley holds the record for the most goals kicked by any league footballer during the 1980s, and of the six Bulldogs to kick 10 or more goals in a match, Beasley is the only player who has achieved the feat multiple times (five in total).
14 - John Schultz
Games: 188 (1958-68)Goals: 37Achievements: x1 Brownlow Medal (1960), x5 Best and Fairest (1960, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1958) x3 Night Premiership Player (1963, 1964, 1967), x1 All Australian (1961) State Representative (VIC), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Back Pocket), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Legend, Australian Football Hall of Fame Member
Perhaps the most popular footballer in the club’s history, Gentleman John Schultz was a fan favourite during his playing days in the 1960s but won over a whole new legion of fans over the past decade as a regular attendee of Bulldogs games until his passing late last year. As a player, Schultz was the latest in a long line of elite Bulldogs ruckman and was one of the best players of his generation, with his palm work and strong marking ability a feature of his game. His durability was also of immense standing, at one point playing 169 consecutive matches for the club, highlighting his incredible powers of recovery. In just his third season, he claimed a Brownlow Medal and the first of five club best and fairest awards. The achievements were a fitting reward for a player of his character, as Schultz was never once reported in his 188 matches. Post-playing days, he was chosen by the VFL to sit with Queen Elizabeth during a football match to explain the rules of the game to her during her visit in 1970, and in 2016 was selected to present the Premiership Cup to Luke Beveridge, Easton Wood and Robert Murphy.
13 - Alby Morrison
Games: 224 (1928-38, 1941-42, 1946)Goals: 369Achievements: Captain (1934-35, 1937), x2 Best and Fairest (1933, 1936), x5 Leading Goalkicker (1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1934), State Representative (VIC), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Half Forward), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member
One of great travesties of yesteryear football is that moving footage of the game’s star players doesn’t exist. In the case of Alby Morrison that regret is particularly apt, because he was undoubtedly one of Footscray’s first stars. In only his fourth game for the club, he booted seven goals against Hawthorn. Later that year, he became the first Bulldog to kick 10 goals in a match - also against Hawthorn. By season’s end, he’d booted 50 goals to top the club’s goalkicking, finished 8th in the league standings, and was still only 19 years old. Morrison would top the club’s goalkicking a further four times in his career, as he evolved into a player that was equally adept as a midfielder, twice going on to secure a top-five finish in the Brownlow Medal. He represented Footscray in its first final in 1938, and in 1942 he became the first Bulldog to reach 200 league matches. Morrison last played for the Bulldogs in 1946, yet still remains in sixth place on the club’s all-time goal-kicking list.
12 - Norm Ware
Games: 200 (1932-46)Goals: 220Achievements: Captain (1941-42), x1 Brownlow Medal (1941), x5 Best and Fairest (1934, 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941), x1 Leading Goalkicker (1942), State Representative (VIC), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Interchange), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Legend, Australia Football Hall of Fame Member
A strong, physical ruckman with the ability to move like a midfielder, Norm Ware was Footscray’s most important player in the late 1930s, with his strong aerial work pivotal to helping Footscray qualify for finals for the first time. His fierce competitiveness was always channelled fairly, collecting five best and fairest awards during his time at the club and after finishing fourth in the Brownlow Medal count in 1940 he became, at the time, the first Bulldog to win a Brownlow Medal when he was honoured a year later. At the time, he was the oldest footballer to win the award (aged 30) and remains the only playing coach to win the medal. Later in his career, he was moved into the forward line where he was just as effective, with his 51 goals in 1942 the best return of his career.
11 - Allan Hopkins
Games: 151 (1925-34)Goals: 205Achievements: Captain (1926, 1929-30), x1 Brownlow Medal (1930), x1 Best and Fairest (1931), x2 Leading Goalkicker (1925, 1926), State Representative (VIC), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Centre), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Legend, Australian Football Hall of Fame Member
Allan Hopkins was Footscray’s first star player. At just 20 years of age, he debuted in Footscray’s first league match back in 1925, impressive with a three-goal effort in a narrow defeat to Fitzroy, meaning that for as long as Footscray have had the VFL, they’ve had Allan Hopkins to celebrate. Affectionately nicknamed “Banana Legs”, Hopkins was a highly-effective centreman during the 1920s and 30s and was almost always at the heart of everything good that Footscray did. A staple in Victoria’s state team, Hopkins’ record in the Brownlow Medal was unmatched, but it still could’ve been so much stronger. He tied for the award in 1930, and although lost the medal due to the count-back rules that were in place at the time, he was retrospectively handed the medal in 1989. He also finished runner-up a further two times in his career.
10 - Arthur Olliver
Games: 272 (1935-50)Goals: 354Achievements: Captain (1943-46, 1948-50), x2 Best and Fairest (1941, 1944), x3 Leading Goalkicker (1937, 1939, 1949), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Interchange), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Legend, Australian Football Hall of Fame Member
In an era where many millions of people were affected by the impact of World War II, Arthur Olliver’s feats on-field become even more impressive when one considers the amount of people who were forced to sacrifice their own livelihoods for the global cause. Olliver rarely missed a game for 16 seasons straight, providing a beacon of hope for Footscray fans with his elite skill and inspirational leadership. Appointed captain in 1943, Olliver led Footscray through its first successful era, where they regularly qualified for finals across the decade. Whether it be as a ruckman or up forward, Olliver was an immense asset however he was used throughout his career, and his durability allowed him to become the second Bulldog to reach 200 games, before going past Alby Morrison to finish on 272 appearances - a club record that would stand for nearly 20 years.
9 - Kelvin Templeton
Games: 143 (1974-82)Goals: 494Achievements: Captain (1982), x1 Brownlow Medal (1980), x2 Coleman Medal (1978, 1979), x5 Leading Goalkicker (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Centre Half Forward), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member, Australian Football Hall of Fame Member
Pound-for-pound, Kelvin Templeton is the best player the Bulldogs have ever had. Blessed with immense overheard marking abilities and an accurate, long-range boot, Templeton burst onto the scene straight away, kicking six goals against Collingwood on debut. From there, Templeton broke all manner of goalkicking records during his time at Footscray, including the club’s home-and-away record in 1976 when he booted 78 goals, before breaking it again two years later, becoming the first Bulldog ever to kick 100 goals in a season, finishing with a tally of 118.65. The standout performance that season was against St Kilda, when he kicked a remarkable 15.9 (a club record that still stands to this day), to help Footscray reach a then-league record of 33.15.213. He would win his second Coleman Medal in 1979, before a move from full-forward to centre-half forward resulted in him - somehow - taking his game to another level, kicking only 75 goals, but polling 23 Brownlow votes to win the award, becoming the first (and to date, only) Bulldog to win both the Brownlow and Coleman Medal. Alas, at about the halfway mark of his career, Templeton suffered a serious knee injury, and it impacted his effectiveness for the rest of his time at VFL level. When he eventually left for Melbourne he sat atop the club’s all-time goalkicking list, despite playing just 143 games.
8 - Gary Dempsey
Games: 207 (1969-78)Goals: 105.
Achievements: Captain (1971-72, 1977-78), x1 Brownlow Medal (1975), x6 Best and Fairest (1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977), x1 All Australian (1972), x2 Night Premiership Player (1967, 1970), State Representative (VIC), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Ruck), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Legend, Australian Football Hall of Fame Member
Achievements: Captain (1971-72, 1977-78), x1 Brownlow Medal (1975), x6 Best and Fairest (1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977), x1 All Australian (1972), x2 Night Premiership Player (1967, 1970), State Representative (VIC), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Ruck), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Legend, Australian Football Hall of Fame Member
For all the terrific ruckmen that Footscray have produced over the last one hundred years, there’s a strong case to be made that Gary Dempsey is the best of all. He is the highest-ranked ruck on this list, and despite five ruckmen being named in the Bulldogs Team of the Century, Dempsey is the man who assumes the official role in the side. Despite that, Dempsey’s career was nearly over before it even began. After suffering from severe burns as a result of the 1969 Lara Bushfires, Dempsey was told by doctors that he would never play league football again. Seven months later, he was back playing for Footscray; the following season, he claimed his first best and fairest. During the 70s, he would add another five of those medals to his cabinet, including taking out the Brownlow Medal in 1975, with his elite tap work and strong marking presence helping him become one of the finest rucks of his generation. He left the club in 1978, having a strong impact over several seasons at North Melbourne. By career’s end, Dempsey had finished top-10 in the Brownlow count a staggering 13 times.
7 - Charlie Sutton
Games: 173 (1942, 1946-56)Goals: 65Achievements: 1954 Premiership Captain, Captain (1951-56), x1 Best and Fairest (1950), x1 Leading Goalkicker (1951), State Representative (VIC), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Back Pocket), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Legend, Australian Football Hall of Fame Member
There have been many players on this list who have epitomised the fighting spirit of the Bulldogs over the past century, but none have done it quite like Charlie Sutton. Tenacious and determined, Sutton was a natural-born leader but was forced to earn his reputation early in his career, as he was often thrown around in several different positions on the ground, struggling to make a name for himself in any one area. Ultimately, he thrived most while playing in the back pocket, but was also used as an enforcer when played on-ball, and did win the club’s goal-kicking award in 1951. His best season came the year prior, however, when he finished third in the Brownlow Medal and took home his only Best and Fairest award that same year. Sutton’s indelible legacy on the game however will always be through his leadership. Appointed captain in 1951, Sutton oversaw one of the best Bulldogs teams ever, making finals in four seasons out of six under his stewardship. But it was in 1954 when he made history, becoming the first man to captain Footscray to a Premiership. Sutton led by example on the day, too, kicking three goals to be one of Footscray’s best.
6 - Scott West
Games: 324 (1993-2008)Goals: 104Achievements: x7 Best and Fairest (1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005), x5 All Australian (1998, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006), State Representative (VIC), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Ruck Rover), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member, Australian Football Hall of Fame Member
Rarely have the Bulldogs had a player who has performed with the consistency of Scott West. A player capable of finding the football in his sleep, no Bulldog has bettered West’s tally of seven club best and fairest awards, while also finishing runner-up on another two occasions. One of the hardest-working players of his generation, it was his willingness to always be at the next contest that allowed West to gather as much of the football as he did, and this was also recognised by his peers, as he also won five All-Australian blazers in his career. And while his feats were regularly recognised on Brownlow night, his efforts yielded no medal, despite numerous close calls. He twice finished runner-up in the count, once finishing third and another time running fourth. By the end of his career in 2008, West had consolidated himself as the Bulldogs' all-time leading disposal-winner, amassing the football over 8000 times in his career.
5 - Doug Hawkins
Games: 329 (1978-94)Goals: 216Achievements: Captain (1990-93), x1 Best and Fairest (1985), x1 Leading Goalkicker (1991), x2 All-Australian (1984, 1986), State Representative (VIC) Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century Vice-Captain (Wing), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Legend, Australian Football Hall of Fame Member
Any player that has a wing named after them needs to have enjoyed quite a special career, and no one deserves that right more than Doug Hawkins. Otherwise known as Dancin’ Dougie, Hawkins dominated the expanses of the Western Oval for over 15 years, captivating the crowd with some of the best natural talent ever to wear the red, white and blue. Whether it be by foot or hand, Hawkins rarely wasted a possession, and his aggressive approach to the game made him a reliable asset in aerial duels, as well. Despite his ability, he doesn’t necessarily have the record to show for it. His best finish in the Brownlow Medal was a fourth-placed finish in 1984, before winning his only best-and-fairest honour the following year. Later in his career, he was moved from his customary wing role into the forward line. He took out the club’s goalkicking award in 1991 with 38 goals, before following it up with a career-best 42-goal return the next season. In his final year in 1994, he broke the club’s all-time games record, surpassing E.J. Whitten’s tally of 321, before leaving the club at season’s end, finishing up on 329 appearances. His resume may not suggest it, but Hawkins was undoubtedly one of Footscray’s best ever and at the time, was considered the club’s second-greatest player, behind only E.J. Whitten.
4 - Brad Johnson
Games: 364 (1994-2010)Goals: 558Achievements: Captain (2006-10), x3 Best and Fairest (1999, 2002, 2006), x5 Leading Goalkicker (2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008), x6 All Australian (1999, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007), x1 All Australian Captain (2006), State Representative (VIC), International Rules Representative, Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Interchange), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Legend, Australian Football Hall of Fame Member
“The Smiling Assassin”, Brad Johnson was an outrageous footballer, who stood out as such even despite the elite talent littered around him at various stages in his career. With explosive speed off the mark and terrific overhead for a player of his size, Johnson as a goalkicking midfielder proved a nightmare matchup for opposition coaches to contend with; too good in the air for mid-sized opposition, and too quick on the ground for a taller opponent, and this was reflected in the six All-Australian honours that he won during his career. Later in his career, he was deployed as a permanent forward, where he continued to be just as damaging. His best campaign arrived in 2006 when, captaining the side as an undersized full-forward, he finished runner-up in the Coleman Medal with a career-best 74 goals, polled 19 Brownlow Votes to finish fifth in the count, and became the first Bulldog to be named All-Australian captain as the club returned to finals for the first time since 2000. He led the club’s goalkicking for four years running towards the end of his career, including 2008, which is statistically the Bulldog highest-scoring season ever. In 2009 he overtook Chris Grant for the most games ever played by a Bulldog and broke past the 350-game barrier in Round 1 of 2010. As things stand, Johnson has still played more games than any other Bulldog, and only Simon Beasley has kicked more goals.
3 - Chris Grant
Games: 341 (1990-2007)Goals: 554Achievements: Captain (2000-04), x2 Best and Fairest (1994, 1996), x2 Leading Goalkicker (1990, 1994), x3 All Australian (1997, 1998, 1999), State Representative (VIC), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Half Forward), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Legend, Australian Football Hall of Fame Member
There wasn’t a Bulldogs kid alive that didn’t have a poster of Chris Grant on their wall at some point in the 1990s. He was the closest thing to a superhero that a footballer could be; a high-flying, strong-marking, goal-kicking centre-half forward. He was the player that every young Bulldogs fan dreamed of being. Despite the stardom, Grant’s career at the Bulldogs originated from humble beginnings. As a scrawny 17-year-old, Grant was drafted by the Bulldogs at Pick 105 in the 1988 National Draft, barely an afterthought of a selection these days. But the doubters were quickly proven wrong once Grant broke through for senior selection, becoming the youngest player in V/AFL history to kick 50 goals in a season, finishing the 1990 campaign with 51 majors, all at just 17 years of age. As his career progressed, Grant evolved from a skin-and-bones full-forward to a powerful, athletic centre-half forward, regularly getting the crowd off its feet with spectacular high-flying marks, while still possessing the agility to be in the contest when the ball hit the ground. He was most dominant in the late 1990s, winning three All-Australian selections in a row as the Bulldogs regularly contended in the top echelons on the ladder. For all the brilliance that Grant displayed through those years, his resume could’ve been so much stronger. He missed out on the 1996 Brownlow Medal, finishing one vote behind joint-winners James Hird and Michael Voss. The following year he polled the most votes but was ruled ineligible due to a one-match suspension incurred earlier in the season, which came days after losing by two points to Adelaide in the Preliminary Final, one of the Bulldogs’ best chances at winning a Premiership in that decade. Grant was appointed captain at the start of the new century, and while he had passed his absolute peak, he was still a valuable member of the Bulldogs' side. His career looked to be hanging by a thread when, in 2003, he suffered a season-ending knee injury at 30 years of age. But he recovered and returned in a new role, this time at centre-half back, and became a crucial member in the Bulldogs' back six, proving that he was both versatile and skilful enough to become one of the Bulldogs' greatest players of all time. He briefly held the club record for most games played, when he overtook Doug Hawkins’ tally in 2006, before retiring the following season.
2 - E.J. Whitten
Games: 321 (1951-70)Goals: 360Achievements: 1954 Premiership Player, Captain (1957-70), x5 Best and Fairest (1954, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961), x4 Leading Goalkicker (1961, 1962, 1964, 1968), x3 All Australian (1956, 1958, 1961), State Representative (VIC), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century Captain (Centre Half Back), AFL Team of the Century Captain (Centre Half Back), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Legend, Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend
Not just one of the greatest players that the Bulldogs have ever seen, E.J. Whitten is one of the greatest figures in the history of the game. His skill, longevity and charisma all combined to make him an icon of Australian sport. Debuting as a talented young prospect at 17 years of age, Whitten made his mark on the game straight away impressing with his excellent skills and his ability to read the play. He played a key role in the club’s Premiership success in 1954, being named among the club’s best players on the day, as well as taking out the club’s best and fairest award that year - the first of five times he would achieve this feat. In 1957, the club appointed Whitten, still just 23 years of age, to the role of captain-coach, a position that he would hold onto until the end of his career. Following this appointment, Whitten was used more in the midfield and up forward, being one of Footscray’s main forward targets during the 1960s. His best return came in 1961, where he kicked 42 goals as he led Footscray to its second Grand Final appearance. Whitten was also a parochial figure when it came to State of Origin football. A Big V regular, Whitten dominated in the carnivals, winning All-Australian honours three times in his career, and winning 27 of the 29 games he played for Victoria. His impact at the Bulldogs waned towards the end of his career, but his legacy and popularity among the Bulldogs fans never did. He was named captain in both AFL and Bulldogs Team of the Century.
1 - Marcus Bontempelli
Games: 240 * (2014-Goals: 232Achievements: 2016 Premiership Player, Captain (2020-), x6 Best and Fairest (2016, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024), x6 All Australian (2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024), x1 All Australian Captain (2024), x3 League MVP (2021, 2023, 2024), x1 AFLCA Player of the Year (2019)
For decades, Whitten has been the undisputed No.1 player in the club’s history, and with good reason. It was always going to take an extraordinary footballer to usurp him. But to call Marcus Bontempelli’s career ‘extraordinary’ wouldn’t nearly do it justice - and it’s still far from over. Almost as soon as he stepped into the AFL system, Bontempelli was the man that teammates turned to get the club over the line, and he regularly delivered, winning several games off his own boot even during his first season. In just his third season, he became the youngest winning captain in V/AFL history when he led to the Bulldogs to victory over West Coast, aged just 20 years and 194 days. Come September that year, he entered the 2016 Finals Series with considerable weight of expectation, but swept past all that came before him in a memorable month of football and played a crucial, if underrated, role in the Grand Final, as the club broke a 62-year Premiership drought. He later became just the second Bulldog to win a best-and-fairest in a Premiership year - the first of six - etching himself into Bulldog immortality at just 20 years of age. Bontempelli’s game grew from strength to strength over the coming years, graduating from a promising youngster to one of the best players in the game. He was appointed club captain in 2020, and the following season led the Bulldogs to another Grand Final appearance. That same season, he won yet another best-and-fairest and also claimed his first League MVP award. Last year, he became the first player in the game to claim the League MVP award three times, and was named All-Australian captain for the first time in his career (his sixth selection in total). At just 29 years of age, there is still time for him to add to his burgeoning resume, and given how he has just continued to improve with age during his career, if any Bulldogs fans have doubts that he is already the greatest player in the club’s history, then the debate will surely be settled by the time his playing days at the Bulldogs come to an end.
