It's no coincidence that the name Harry Hickey featured on the team sheets of teach of the Bulldogs' first five appearances in finals between 1938 and 1948. Hickey - born exactly 100 years ago today on July 19, 1917 - joined the Bulldogs from local club South Footscray, kicking a goal on debut five days after his 20th birthday in a loss to St Kilda at the Junction Oval in round 14, 1937.

A hefty loss to Collingwood the following week proved to be Hickey's last match of that year but when he was reinstated to the Footscray line up in Round 2 of the following season, he had an immediate impact and became a permanent and vital member of the Bulldogs side over the next decade.

Hickey's first full season in 1938 saw him establish himself as a star as a rover and half forward flank, and he collected 11 Brownlow votes, finishing 13th in the count, only seven shy of that year's winner, Essendon champion Dick Reynolds.

Possession stats were not recorded for many games in that era but in Footscray's round 9 win over Collingwood in that season, Hickey had 30 kicks - more than any other player on the field - and kicked five goals. The Dogs met the Magpies again in their first ever VFL final later that year and although Footscray lost, Hickey was listed as one of the Bulldogs' best.

A move to the centre in 1939 saw Hickey became a champion of the game, and he polled 20 Brownlow votes to finish runner up to Collingwood's Marcus Whelan.

Hickey continued to be a fine player for the Bulldogs until 1948, representing Victoria twice, winning the club's best and fairest award in 1939, 1945 and 1948, his final season. He captained the club in 1947 and was again listed in the best players in Footscray's 1944 and 1948 semi final losses.

Surprisingly, Hickey's finest achievement was perhaps a point he kicked against Carlton in 1944. At Princes Park in the season's final round, scores were level when Hickey marked just before the final bell. With the crowd swarming onto the ground around him, Hickey took a post-siren kick which registered a behind, enough to give the Dogs a one-point win and see Footscray replace Carlton in fourth place and gain a semi final berth.

After an outstanding 174-game career with the Dogs, Hickey took up a coaching role with Rochester in the Bendigo Football League. Hickey passed away in 1999, aged 82, but his fine achievements and standing at the club were recognised three years later when he was named in the Bulldogs' Team of the Century.