The Western Bulldogs are mourning the death of former player Neil Sachse, who has passed away at age 69.

Sachse played two games for the Bulldogs after a glittering start to his career in the SANFL, and will remembered for the tragic injury which sadly ended his playing career. 

During his second game for Footscray in 1975, Sachse collided with a Fitzroy opponent, suffering a spinal cord injury which left him a quadriplegic.

Following the unfortunate injury, Sachse founded an organisation to raise funds for research into the treatment of spinal cord injury, in 1994.

It was later named the Neil Sachse Foundation, which has raised millions of dollars for research into finding a cure.

Prior to arriving at the Bulldogs, Sachse was a premiership star with North Adelaide in the SANFL.

He played 89 games and kicked 114 goals for the Roosters in five seasons from 1970-74, and represented South Australia on five occasions.

In 2009, Sachse was presented with the ‘Premier’s Award for Outstanding Community Achievement’ in South Australia, and in 2015 he released his biography, Playing On.

The Club’s thoughts are with the Sachse family during this sad time.