Kelvin Templeton was one of the Bulldogs’ inaugural Hall of Fame inductees in 2010.
With 143 games to his name between 1974 and 1982, the former captain, two-time Coleman Medallist and five-time Footscray leading goalkicker finished his career with a then Club record 494 goals.
While he’s now dropped to fourth in terms of most goals kicked by a Bulldog, his 15-goal output in a single game during the 1978 season remains as one of the most incredible performances in club history.
He collected his first Bulldogs’ best and fairest at the end of that season, to go with his first Coleman Medal.
Templeton continued to etch his name into history in the years following, claiming the 1979 Coleman Medal before his second Club Champion award in 1980.
He also became the first forward to win football’s highest individual honour, the Brownlow Medal, in 1980.
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Speaking at the Hall of Fame event in 2010, Templeton recalled how a serious chest injury at the end of 1978 nearly prematurely ended his football career.
“I was picked in the Australian team so was playing in Ireland, and unfortunately while I was overseas my lung collapsed,” Templeton explained.
“I came back to Australia but things got worse after that.
“I had quite a difficult surgery, which was something to overcome. It was quite a challenging thing at the time to get over it, and even play football again.”
Following his career in the red, white and blue, Templeton spent three seasons at Melbourne before announcing his playing retirement and later becoming CEO of the Sydney Swans.
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KELVIN TEMPLETON PROFILE
Inducted: 2010
Games: 143 (1974–82)
Goals: 494
Captain: 1982
Club Best and fairest: 1978, 1980
Club leading goalkicker: 1976–80
Coleman Medal: 1978–79
Brownlow Medal: 1980
Other honours: Footscray-Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (centre half-forward)
