Selected for their exceptional achievements, extraordinary service, exemplary character and the manner in which their profound contribution was made. To maintain the elite status of the Legends, their total number will never exceed 15% of the number of inductees.
Doug Hawkins
Inducted: 2010
Elevated: 2014
Games: 329 (1978–94)
Goals: 216
Captain: 1990–93
Best and fairest: 1985
Leading goal kicker: 1991
All-Australian selection: 1984, 1986
AFL Hall of Fame inductee (2004)
Footscray-Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (vice-captain/wing)
Footscray-Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame: Inducted 2010
Among the club’s most loved players, Doug Hawkins made the outer wing at the Western Oval his own – eventually having it named in his honour. Superbly gifted, and skilled on both sides of the body, he was unbeatable one-on-one and rarely wasted a possession. The ‘Hawk’ firmly established his reputation as a wingman of class during the 1980s, earning a place in the Victorian state team in 1982, 1984, 1985 and 1989 and the VFL team of the year in 1984 and 1986.
Winning the club best and fairest in 1985 and finishing runner-up on three other occasions, Hawkins’ genius was never more evident than during the 1985 finals series but, at his playing peak in 1986, he suffered a serious knee injury. When he returned a year later, it was to a hero’s welcome and he displayed all the nous and skill for which he was renowned.
After the tumultuous events of the 1989 Fightback, he relished the role of captain for four years, playing roles at half-back and up forward where he won the club goalkicking in 1991. He broke Ted Whitten’s longstanding record of 321 games in 1994, and went on to eventually play what was then a club record of 329 games.
In 2002, he was named as vice-captain and wingman in the Bulldogs’ ‘Team of the Century’ and he was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 2004. An inductee to the Footscray-Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame in 2010, Hawkins was elevated to Legend status in 2014 becoming the fourth player to receive the esteemed accolade.
John Schultz
Inducted: 2010
Elevated: 2012
Games: 188 (1958–68)
Goals: 37
Best and fairest: 1960, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966
Runner-up best and fairest: 1959, 1968
Brownlow Medal: 1960
All-Australian selection: 1961
State selection: 24 games for Victoria
Night premierships: 1963, 1964, 1967
AFL Hall of Fame inductee (1996)
Footscray-Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (back pocket)
There was no better ruckman in the 1960s than John Schultz. He gave the club incredible service over 11 seasons and 188 games, playing a club record 169 consecutive games.
Those who played on Schultz swore he was their toughest opponent. Known as ‘Gentleman John’ he was scrupulously fair, a fine mark and an exceptional palmer of the ball.
In his first season, Schultz won the club’s ‘Most Determined’ and ‘Best First Year Player’ awards and was selected to play for Victoria – the first of his 24 appearances for the ‘Big V.'
Two years later, in 1960, he won the Brownlow Medal and the first of his record-equalling five club best and fairest awards (equalling the record that had been set by Norm Ware and Ted Whitten before him).
He had an outstanding record in the Brownlow Medal, polling votes in every season and scoring a career total of 111 votes. Schultz also won the club’s ‘Most Consistent’ player award in 1961, 1963 and 1967 and was twice ‘Best Clubman’, in 1966 he played in the club’s second Grand Final appearance and, while a premiership eluded the team that day, he played in Footscray’s first three night premierships (1963, 1964 and 1967).
When the E.J. Whitten Stand was built at the Western Oval, one of the five bays was named in his honour. Schultz was selected as the resting ruckman in the back pocket in the Footscray-Western Bulldogs Team of the Century in 2002.
A man of great integrity and humanity, Schultz was further recognised by the club when, in 2011, it named its club ‘Community Award’ after him (the award being for players, who by their actions, have made a significant contribution to the wider community).
Charlie Sutton
Inducted: 2010
Elevated: 2010
Games: 173 (1942, 1946–56)
Goals: 65
Captain: 1951–56
Coach: 1951–57, 1967–68
Best and fairest: 1950
Leading goalkicker: 1951 (equal)
All-Australian selection: 1950
State selection: 18 games for Victoria
Footscray Football Club President: 1978–81
AFL Hall of Fame inductee (1996)
Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (coach/back pocket)
Epitomising the Bulldog ‘never-say-die’ attitude on the field, Sutton was one of the most feared players of his era, be it on the half-forward flank, on the backline or roving.
An inspirational captain-coach who led by example, he led Footscray to the club’s first VFL finals win in 1953, but the 1954 premiership was his crowning glory, when he built a host of talented players into a champion team.
Ted Whitten
Inducted: 2010
Elevated: 2010
Games: 321 (1951–70)
Goals: 360
Captain: 1957–70 Coach: 1957–66, 1969–71
Best and fairest: 1954, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1961
Leading goalkicker: 1961, 1962, 1964 (equal), 1968
1954 Premiership team: Centre half-back
All-Australian selection: 1956, 1958, 1961
State selection: 29 games for Victoria
Legend in the AFL Hall of Fame (1996)
AFL Team of the Century (capt./centre half-back)
Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (capt./centre half-back)
Whitten played a VFL record 321 games in an inspirational 20 year playing career, captaining Footscray for 212 games, and coaching for 228, with over 12 seasons as playing coach.
Centre half-back for the Club’s 1954 premiership; he also coached the team to a Grand Final appearance, in 1961.
Whitten was named captain of both the AFL and Bulldogs’ Teams of the Century.
Chris Grant
Played: 1990-2007 (18 seasons)
Games: 341 (173 wins, 6 draws, 162 losses-Success ratio 51.61%)
Goals: 554
Captain: (4) 2001-04
Best & Fairest: (2) 1994, =1996 R/U: (3) 1997, 1998, 1999 3rd: (1) 2001 Top 3: 6 times
Leading Club Goalkicker: (2) 1990 (51 goals), 1994 (71 goals)
Brownlow career votes: 112
Finals: 15 (including losing Prelims 1992, 1997 & 1998)
Victorian Rep Games: 5 (1993-94, 96-97, 99)
All-Australian: (3) 1997, 1998, 1999
Inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame: 2012
Foots/WB Team of Century: Half forwardFoots/WB Hall of Fame: 2010
Chris Grant forged an incredible career after arriving at the Club during the tumultuous events of the 1989 Fightback.
Grant was a star with the Bulldogs from his debut as a skinny 17-year-old kid in 1990, eventually becoming the youngest player in League history to kick 50 goals in a season.
As his body developed he moved out to centre-half-forward and by 1994 he was in peak form winning the best and fairest and leading the Club goal-kicking with 74 majors. Grant showed his versatility when he moved to centre half-back in 1996 and fell just one vote short of winning the Brownlow Medal.
He played a then Club record 341 games after overcoming a knee injury that saw him miss all but one game of the 2003 season; he kicked 554 goals in 18 seasons between 1990-2007; captained the Club between 2001-04 and polled 112 Brownlow votes, the same as Club legend and fellow No. 3, Ted Whitten.
Norm Ware
Played: 1932-42, 1944-46 (14 seasons)
Games: 200 (87 wins, 1 draw, 112 losses-Success ratio 43.75%)
Goals: 220
Captain/Coach: (2) 1941-42 (P:33 W:20 L:13 success 60.61%) also Captain: (1) 1940
Best & Fairest: (5) 1934, 1937, 1938, 1940, =1941 R/U: 1942 (other years unknown)
Leading Club Goalkicker: (1) 1942 (51 goals)
Brownlow Medal: 1941
Brownlow career votes: 130 (polled in 10 seasons [8 x double figures]-highest 23)
Finals: 3 (losing semi-finals)
Victorian Rep Games: 11 (1933,34,36,37,38,39) Rep games not played 1940,42-44
All-Australian: Not awarded during his playing career
AFL Hall of Fame: 2001
Foots/WB Team of Century: Interchange
Norm Ware was one of the most outstanding ruckman of his era.
Originally from Sale, Ware was exceptionally mobile for his height and was a great mark around the ground. Resting forward, he had a penchant for kicking goals as evidenced by his 52 goals in 1942 when he won the club goal-kicking. War service interrupted the latter years of his career, but he still managed to produce outstanding football. In his only game of 1945, he kicked six goals, and in his 200th and last game in the 1946 first semi-final, he kicked four goals to end his career with 220 goals, a fine achievement for a ruckman.
Norm Ware was named in the Footscray-Western Bulldogs Team of the Century, had a bay of the Whitten stand named after him and was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame.
Allan Hopkins
Played: VFA 1923-24, 1925-34 (12 seasons all up)
Games: (170) - VFA 19, VFL 151 (63 wins, 1 draw, 87 losses-Success ratio 42.05%)
Goals: (242) VFA 37, VFL 205
Premierships: 1924 (VFA) (and championship game v Ess (L) in 1924)
Captain/Coach: 1930 (P:18 W:4 L:14 - team finished 11th) Captain : part 1926, part 1929
Best & Fairest: (1) 1931 R/U: (unknown)
Leading Club Goalkicker: (2) 1925 (40 goals), =1926 (42 goals)
Brownlow Medal: 1930 (equal)
Brownlow career votes: 62*
Victorian Rep Games: 17+ (1925, 26, 28, 29, 30, 33)
All-Australian: Not awarded during his playing career
AFL Hall of Fame: 1996
Foots/WB Team of Century: Centre
Allan Hopkins was Footscray’s first superstar, a brilliant half-forward and centreman who had an amazing record in the Brownlow Medal.
Hopkins finished second in the Medal in 1929 and 1931, lost on a countback in 1930 and was fourth in 1934. In recognition of his outstanding record, the VFL awarded him an illuminated address, the first and only time in history. When the countback system was abolished in 1989, Hopkins was retrospectively awarded a Brownlow Medal for the 1930 season, a year in which he was captain-coach.
In all, Hopkins played 151 games for 205 goals in the VFL and a further 19 games for 37 goals in the VFA for his beloved Bulldogs.
Brad Johnson
Played: 1994-2010
Games: 364 (177 wins, 7 draws, 180 losses - Success ratio 49.59%)
Goals: 558
Captain: (5) 2006-10
Best & Fairest: (3) 1999, 2002, 06 r/u: (2) 2003, 07 3rd: 2000, 04 Top 4: 9 times
Leading Club Goalkicker: (5) 2001, 05, 06, 07, 08
Brownlow career votes: 79
Finals: (21)
Victorian Rep Games at Footscray: (3) 1997, 98, 99
All-Australian: (6) 1999, 2000, 02, 05, 06, 07
Inducted into the Australian Hall of Fame: 2014
Foots/WB Team of Century: Interchange
Foots/WB Hall of Fame: 2014
With his infectious smile and enthusiasm, Brad Johnson was a popular player and captain at Whitten Oval, becoming the club games record holder in a brilliant career. He progressed from a wingman/midfielder to forward-line match winner. His overhead marking and speed off the mark proved a handful for the very best defenders, while his goalkicking exploits saw him kick the second most career goals of any Bulldog.
Drafted from the Western Jets, Johnson was a six-time All-Australian (once as captain); triple best and fairest winner; Victorian representative in 1997, 1998 and 1999; and played in more finals than any other Bulldog player.
When only halfway through his career, he was chosen on the interchange bench in the Bulldogs’ Team of the Century. Stylish and clever, ‘Johnno’ had it all – class, consistency, fierce determination, resilience, versatility and courage in abundance.
Arthur Olliver
Played: 1935-50 (16 seasons)
Games: 272 (128 wins, 4 draws, 140 losses - Success ratio 47.79%)
Goals: 354
Captain/Coach: (7) 1943-46 (6th, 4th, 5th, 4th) and 1948-50 (4th, 9th, 10th)
Best & Fairest: (2) 1941 (joint), 1944 r/u: unknown 3rd: unknown
Leading Club Goalkicker: (3) 1936 (37 goals), 1937 (39 goals), 1949 (28 goals)
Brownlow career votes: 58* (*Brownlow suspended 4 years: 1942-45)
Finals: 5 (1938, 42, 44, 46, 48)
Victorian Rep Games: 2* (*State games suspended 4 years: 1940, 42-44)
All-Australian: n/a
Inducted into the Australian Hall of Fame: 2003
Foots/WB Team of Century: Interchange
Foots/WB Hall of Fame: 2010
An outstanding all-round athlete, renowned as a tap ruckman but capable of playing in key positions, forward or back. The idol of Ted Whitten Snr, Olliver was a Club icon who represented the Bulldogs across 16 seasons from 1935-50, including seven years as captain-coach.
Olliver finished his career with a then-club record 272 games and 354 goals, and claimed the leading goalkicker award on three occasions.
He won two Bulldogs’ Best and Fairests (1941, 1944) and became Footscray’s most successful coach on retirement, leading the team to three finals series during the 1940s.
Gary Dempsey
Played: 1967-78
Games: 207 (91 wins, 3 draws, 113 losses - Success ratio 44.69%)
Goals: 105
Captain: (4) 1971-72, 1977-78
Best & Fairest: (6) 1970, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 r/u: (3) 1971, 72, 78 3rd: nil Top 3: 9 times
Leading Club Goalkicker: nil
Brownlow Medal: 1975
Brownlow career votes at Footscray: 148.5* (*votes halved in the years 1976-77 due to double votes being awarded)
Finals: (2) 1974, 1976
Night Premierships: (2) 1967, 1970
Victorian Rep Games at Footscray: (17) 1970, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78
All-Australian: (1 from 1) 1972
Inducted into the Australian Hall of Fame: 1996
Foots/WB Team of Century: Ruck
Foots/WB Hall of Fame: 2010
Former captain and six-time Best and Fairest winner Gary Dempsey has always been described as one of the all-time Bulldog greats, with that honour now formally bestowed upon him.
With a decorated 207-game career in the red, white and blue, Dempsey was a formidable ruck during his star playing days in the 1970s, He still holds the record for most Charles Sutton Medals won consecutively (1973-1977).
Dempsey’s consistency was highlighted by a record 13 finishes in the Brownlow Top 10 – with nine of these occasions happening during his career at the Kennel – and claimed the highest individual honour in 1975. Dempsey also has the third-placed medal in the Club Best and Fairest named in his honour.
