Whitten Oval stands on the traditional lands of the Kulin Nation, at the convergence of Boonwurrung and Wurundjeri Country. 

The Western Bulldogs Football Club proudly acknowledges the enduring connection of First Nations peoples to this land and honours the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players throughout its history. 

The Club’s first First Nations player, Charlie Stewart, made his debut in 1961. Since then, many First Nations players have worn the red, white, and blue with pride and distinction.  

In 2016, Joel Hamling became the first Indigenous player to feature in a Bulldogs premiership side, and in 2018, Naomi Ferres became the Club’s first First Nations female player to win an AFLW premiership. 

Electrifying wingman Michael ‘Magic’ McLean, who thrilled fans with his pace during the 1980s, was later named in the Indigenous Team of the Century, alongside Nicky Winmar, who played for the Bulldogs in 1999. 

With 206 games, Lindsay Gilbee holds the record for the most senior AFL appearances by a player of First Nations heritage at the Western Bulldogs. 

In a landmark moment for the Club, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan became the Bulldogs' first Indigenous player selected with the number one pick in the AFL National Draft, taken in 2020.