There aren't many footy fans of age 30-plus who don't remember Ted Whitten's last public appearance.
‘EJ’ sadly passed away in August 1995, but not before he left fans with an indelible memory two months earlier on June 17, exactly 25 years ago today.
Ted had been a larger than life character for more than 40 years. He was a premiership champion, captain and coach with Footscray, as well as a four-time All Australian who made many appearances for the Victorian state team, wearing the ‘Big V’.
When Ted's playing days were over, he became a television and radio commentator, his vast football knowledge combined with his irreverent sense of humour making him popular with fans of all teams.
If there was one thing other than the Bulldogs that brought out the greatest passion in EJ, it was his love of the ‘Big V’ jumper and all it represented. When the Vics took on Western Australia, and especially when they faced South Australia, Ted was there, doing whatever he could to urge the best Victorian players to victory.
Ted loved nothing more than seeing the Sandgropers and Croweaters defeated by the Vics. After one win over Western Australia in 1990, Whitten's emotions overflowed on camera as he shouted, “Stuck it right up ’em! That’s what you did. You stuck it right up ’em."
“We stuck it right up ’em" became a catchphrase forever associated with Ted, reprised whenever the Big V had a win.
Five years after he uttered those words, Ted was at the MCG for one final State of Origin match against South Australia. Sadly by then, prostate cancer had taken its toll, and EJ was unable to watch the Vics win last time, his sight having failed him.
In one of the most moving moments in footy history, Ted took a final lap around the MCG before that win, accompanied in a car by his son Ted Junior.
There were no dry eyes as Ted said his goodbyes to the crowd, and shook hands with past teammates and ‘enemies’ such as his old South Australian adversary and great mate Neil Kerley.
Ted's last appearance at the MCG has taken on an even greater poignancy in recent months, following the tragic, untimely death of Danny Frawley. It was Frawley, another great champion of the Big V, who had led Whitten around the change rooms prior to his lap of honour, introducing Ted to players he could no longer see.
Frawley then left EJ in the company of Ted Junior, father and son embracing as their car traced the MCG boundary line. Young Ted painted pictures through words for Ted Senior, of the scenes his father could only hear.
Ted's final farewell lives on through video footage of the day, and that footage also captures the audio of ground announcer Mike Williamson's perfect words as Mr Football's final lap comes to an end:
"Ladies and gentlemen, a very special moment for the great man. Good onya Teddy!"
