The EJ Whitten Cup will be contested for the 32nd time this Sunday evening between the Western Bulldogs and Essendon.
Named in honour of Club legend Ted Whitten, the Cup was established in 1995.
It is played out in the first encounters between the two clubs each season.
This year, that encounter will fall this Easter Sunday evening at Marvel Stadium.
Ted Whitten was present for the inaugural EJ Whitten Cup, which was established to recognise his contribution to the Footscray Football Club and Victorian football in general. He died of prostate cancer in August 1995.
The Bulldogs retained the silverware in 2025, following a 91-point win in Round 10, tipping the ledger in their favour in recent years (16 wins to Essendon’s 14).
The two teams played out a draw in 2002.
Year |
Round |
Result |
Venue |
|
1995 |
9 |
Essendon 15.11 (101) def. Footscray 9.13 (67) |
MCG |
|
1996 |
8 |
Essendon 23.15 (151) def. Footscray 13.6 (84) |
MCG |
|
1997 |
10 |
Essendon 17.12 (114) def. by Western Bulldogs 20.16 (136) |
MCG |
|
1998 |
6 |
Western Bulldogs 13.19 (97) def. Essendon 13.11 (89) |
Optus Oval |
|
1999 |
13 |
Essendon 10.20 (80) def. Western Bulldogs 11.10 (76) |
MCG |
|
2000 |
6 |
Western Bulldogs 12.9 (81) def. by Essendon 22.12 (144) |
Colonial Stadium |
|
2001 |
14 |
Western Bulldogs 11.10 (76) def. by Essendon 24.10 (154) |
Colonial Stadium |
|
2002 |
14 |
Western Bulldogs 18.10 (118) drew Essendon 17.16 (118) |
Colonial Stadium |
|
2003 |
4 |
Western Bulldogs 16.14 (110) def. by Essendon 20.9 (129) |
Telstra Dome |
|
2004 |
7 |
Western Bulldogs 14.11 (95) def. by Essendon 18.13 (121) |
Telstra Dome |
|
2005 |
10 |
Essendon 21.11 (137) def. Western Bulldogs 17.8 (110) |
Telstra Dome |
|
2006 |
3 |
Essendon 13.15 (93) def. by Western Bulldogs 15.14 (104) |
Telstra Dome |
|
2007 |
15 |
Essendon 14.14 (98) def. by Western Bulldogs 20.11 (131) |
Telstra Dome |
|
2008 |
4 |
Essendon 14.14 (98) def. by Western Bulldogs 19.14 (128) |
Telstra Dome |
|
2009 |
16 |
Essendon 11.4 (70) def. by Western Bulldogs 15.13 (103) |
Etihad Stadium |
|
2010 |
10 |
Essendon 15.9 (99) def. Western Bulldogs 14.6 (90) |
Etihad Stadium |
|
2011 |
1 |
Essendon 16.17 (113) def. Western Bulldogs 8.10 (58) |
Etihad Stadium |
|
2012 |
14 |
Essendon 21.14 (140) def. Western Bulldogs 8.8 (56) |
Etihad Stadium |
|
2013 |
16 |
Western Bulldogs 14.6 (90) def. by Essendon 18.13 (121) |
Etihad Stadium |
|
2014 |
7 |
Essendon 10.13 (73) def. Western Bulldogs 9.11 (65) |
Etihad Stadium |
|
2015 |
18 |
Essendon 5.10 (40) def. by Western Bulldogs 19.13 (127) |
Etihad Stadium |
|
2016 |
22 |
Essendon 7.11 (53) def. by Western Bulldogs 14.9 (93) |
Etihad Stadium |
|
2017 |
19 |
Western Bulldogs 19.13 (127) def. Essendon 13.19 (97) |
Etihad Stadium |
|
2018 |
3 |
Western Bulldogs 14.20 (104) def. Essendon 12.11 (83) |
Etihad Stadium |
|
2019 |
21 |
Essendon 4.9 (33) def. by Western Bulldogs 21.11 (137) |
Marvel Stadium |
|
2020 |
7 |
Essendon 7.9 (51) def. by Western Bulldogs 14.9 (93) |
Marvel Stadium |
|
2021 |
21 |
Western Bulldogs 12.12 (84) def. by Essendon 15.7 (97) |
Marvel Stadium |
|
2022 |
7 |
Western Bulldogs 16.7 (103) def. Essendon 10.11 (71) |
Marvel Stadium |
|
2023 |
19 |
Essendon 7.7 (49) def. by Western Bulldogs 13.12 (90) |
Marvel Stadium |
|
2024 |
5 |
Western Bulldogs 9.13 (67) def. by Essendon 15.6 (96) |
Marvel Stadium |
|
2025 |
10 |
Western Bulldogs 18.19 (127) def. Essendon 5.6 (36) |
Marvel Stadium |
