Since joining the VFL in 1925, the Western Bulldogs have produced ten individual Brownlow Medal winners—equal-second only to Essendon in total winners—highlighting the Club’s proud tradition of elite talent and fair play. 

In the Club’s early years, Allan Hopkins achieved the rare feat of finishing runner-up in the Brownlow Medal in three consecutive seasons. Decades later, in 1989, the VFL retrospectively awarded him the 1930 Brownlow Medal after a change to the countback rules. 

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Legend | Hopkins, the 'Scray's first superstar

Allan Hopkins was a premiership player (1924), a Brownlow Medallist (1930), a best and fairest winner (1931) and was duly inducted into the Footscray-Western Bulldogs and AFL Hall of Fame in their inaugural years. Hopkins played 151 games for 205 goals in the VFL. He is now officially a Legend of the Club.

The Club’s first official Brownlow winner was Norm Ware in 1941, who claimed the medal while serving as captain-coach. He was followed by Peter Box (1956), John Schultz (1960), Gary Dempsey (1975), Kelvin Templeton (1980), Brad Hardie (1985), Tony Liberatore (1990), Scott Wynd (1992) and Adam Cooney (2008).

Terry Wheeler, Scott Wynd and Tony Liberatore celebrate after Wynd is awarded the 1992 Brownlow Medal.

In the AFLW, Emma Kearney made history as the first Bulldog to win the AFL Women’s Best and Fairest award, claiming the honour in 2018.

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