Last night at the Club’s Season Launch, Western Bulldogs Club President David Smorgon OAM officially announced that the Club’s Inaugural Hall of Fame event will be held on Saturday, May 29 2010.

From the introduction of the Footscray Football Club through to the Western Bulldogs era and everything in between, guests will be taken on an unforgettable journey through the Club’s colourful history at Crown Palladium.

Despite the Club only having secured one Premiership during it’s time in the VFL/AFL, the pioneers experienced great success securing nine Premierships from the Clubs inception in 1883 through till 1924.

As well as this, 10 Bulldogs have taken home the coveted Brownlow Medal, the League’s highest individual honour, suggesting there will be great interest surrounding who will be inducted at the inaugural event.

Smorgon told the captive crowd that the Club has a proud history and “to get in quickly as tickets to this event will sell out.”

Those selected for induction will be chosen by a 5 member selection committee. Chaired by Club President David Smorgon the committee consists of Terry Wheeler, Ray Walker, Darren Arthur and Mike Sheahan.

Wheeler provides an intimate insider’s perspective having played for the Footscray Football Club from 1974-1983, and coached from 1990-1994.

Arthur is the Club Historian and with his detailed knowledge of the Club, he will be an integral part in the selection process.

Walker also had success as a player from 1959-1965 and then moved into journalism, spending 20 years as an ABC football commentator. He was Victorian selector for 5 years and FFC chairman of selectors from 1987-1989, adding a substantial mix of personal experience and industry knowledge.

Sheahan is an eminent journalist for the Herald Sun with an incredibly deep and diverse knowledge and understanding of the AFL, the Western Bulldogs and the industry in general.

To determine eligibility for induction, the Committee shall consider a candidate’s outstanding service, devotion and overall contribution to the Club. Qualities such as leadership, skill, courage and sportsmanship and a candidate’s integrity, loyalty and character may be considered. To be eligible a player must have been retired from the Club for two years.

A candidate should be a person who by their deeds embodies the true Bulldog spirit.
There are two categories, Hall of Fame Members and Bulldogs Legends; these will be selected from six eras.

On the evening the Western Bulldogs Forever Foundation will also officially launch ‘The Bulldog Heritage - Historical player register’. This book is the first in a series and features the stories of ninety of the Club’s past players. It will give readers a great insight into the people, events and milestones that form the Club’s history. The book will be available on the evening for purchase and pre-orders will be available for collection.

So be a part of the event that will take you back through history, through both the highs and the lows that have shaped the Club we know today.

Who and how many former Bulldogs will be inducted? To find out first you’ll have to be there on Saturday May 29th. Tickets now available, click here to purchase.