The 100 Greatest Footscray/Western Bulldogs Players of All Time: 40-21
Things have been building nicely over the past few days, but this is the day where things start to heat up.
It's been an enjoyable ride recounting the names of some of our favourite players from over the decades, but the time for reminiscing is over. We're now approaching the business end of the list, and competition for spots is fierce, so from now on, only the club's very best players will be getting a look-in. But make no mistake, this list is filled with some immense talent.
40. Bernie Quinlan
Games: 177 (1969-77)
Goals: 241
Achievements: x1 Leading Goalkicker (1971), x1 Night Premiership Player (1970)
A player with the ability to feature much higher on this list, most of Bernie Quinlan’s very best football was on display while at Fitzroy, so it can’t be factored into account when compiling this list. Regardless, he was still a priceless asset for Footscray across nearly a decade, dominating opposition defences with his aerial prowess, his athleticism and speed for a player of his size, and his lethal kicking; even if he wasn’t always an accurate kick for goal (he managed 241.253 during his time at Footscray). Despite his dominance in Footscray’s forward line, he would only once collect the club’s leading goalkicker award, before being cleared to Fitzroy in 1977, as Footscray were forced to sell several of its star players due to financial pressures.
39. David Thorpe
Games: 151 (1965-73)
Goals: 79
Achievements: Captain (1973), x2 Best and Fairest (1968, 1971), x1 All Australian (1972), x2 Night Premiership Player (1967, 1970), State Representative (Vic)
A prodigious ball magnet for a decade, David Thorpe regularly broke new grounds for Footscray when it came to finding the football. He became just the third player ever to record over 600 disposals in a season; his 660-disposal effort in 1971 was a club record that wouldn’t be broken for over 20 years. It was one of two campaigns where he won a club Best and Fairest, and the following season he secured All-Australian honours following his performances for Victoria in the 1972 Perth Carnival. The form he’d displayed across his career was rewarded with the honour of captaincy in 1973, but it was to be his final season at the club, going on to become a Premiership player at Richmond.
38. Ivan McAlpine
Games: 112 (1927-33)
Goals: 24
Achievements: Captain (1933), x3 Best and Fairest (1927, 1930, 1932) State Representative (Vic)
Ivan McAlpine last played for Footscray in 1933; almost 90 years worth of footballers have walked through the club’s doors since then. The fact that he remains so high on an all-time list such as this is testament to how skillful a footballer he was. In just 112 games, he managed to win the club’s best and fairest award three times, including winning the first-ever such award in 1927 (Footscray did not have a club champion award in its first two seasons). He dominated along the wing during his time at the club, possessing a frame that was much larger than his direct opponents, but didn’t lack anything in speed or skill. He was also given the role of club captain in his final season at the club, before leaving to continue his career at Hawthorn.
37. Bill Wood
Games: 115 (1944-51)
Goals: 294
Achievements: x5 Leading Goalkicker (1944, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1950)
For all the talented full-forwards Footscray have had in their history, Bill Wood was the first to establish himself as a long-term main forward target. Originally recruited from South Sydney, Wood’s debut was scarcely believable, booting nine goals in a narrow win against Collingwood. At the time, it was a league record for most goals scored on debut, and to this day is a feat bettered only by John Coleman (with 12 goals in 1949). Wood finished his debut season with 51 goals and took out the club’s goalkicking award - the first of five times in his career. To this day, only Simon Beasley has achieved such a feat more often. Wood’s best season came in 1947, where he became the first Bulldog to kick more than 60 goals in a season, finishing with 75 in the home-and-away season, a record which stood for nearly 30 years.
36. Joe Ryan
Games: 167 (1937-48)
Goals: 261
Achievements: x2 Best and Fairest (1946, 1947), x1 Leading Goalkicker (1945), State Representative (Vic)
Tough, energetic, and skilful, Joe Ryan was everything a great rover needed to be in the 1940s. Ryan wasted precious little time establishing himself as a first-team regular at Footscray, and in only his second season became a member of Footscray’s first-ever finals side. A regular member for Victoria throughout his career, Ryan’s importance to the club was consolidated towards the end of his career, firstly by winning the club’s goalkicking award in 1945, before winning successive Best and Fairest awards in the following two seasons. His final game for Footscray was a four-goal return in the 1948 Semi-Final defeat to Collingwood.
35. Jackson Macrae
Games: 249 (2013-24)
Goals: 55
Achievements: 2016 Premiership Player, x3 All Australian (2019, 2020, 2021), x1 Gary Ayres Medal (2021)
One of the great mysteries of the modern game is how Jackson Macrae spent over a decade at the Bulldogs, and yet for all he achieved, never won a club best and fairest award. Almost from day one, Macrae demonstrated his ability to gather the ball at will, regularly collecting 30+ disposals most weeks in his second season. It wasn’t until the turn of the decade that Macrae hit his peak, winning All-Australian honours three years in a row, but it was his 2021 campaign that stood out in particular. He became the first Bulldog to win the Gary Ayres Medal - awarded by the coaches to the best-performing player in the finals series - and also set a league record for the most disposals in a season by any player, recording a staggering 880 touches in 26 games. His finest hour arrived in the 2016 Preliminary Final, where he kicked the winning goal and sent the Bulldogs through to their first Grand Final in 55 years. He was terrific the following week, too, registering a team-high 33 disposals as the Bulldogs broke the drought. His time at the club came to an end last year, when he was traded to St Kilda.
34. Easton Wood
Games: 188 (2009-21)
Goals: 21
Achievements: 2016 Premiership Captain, Captain (2018-19), x1 Best and Fairest (2015), x1 All Australian (2015), Night Premiership Player (2010), International Rules Representative (2011)
For the first few years in Easton Wood’s career, it just looked as though it wasn’t going to work out for him. A gifted athlete, Wood was regularly sidelined with injuries - particularly to his hamstring - during the early stages of his career. Wood finally caught a break in 2014, playing 20 games, but it wasn’t until the following year under Luke Beveridge where Wood rose to prominence, going from a no-frills stopper to an elite intercept marker. His athleticism, bravery, and aerial feats took the competition by storm, and he claimed both the club’s best and fairest and All-Australian honours in that same season. In 2016, he was forced to stand in as acting captain for nearly the entire season, following a season-ending knee injury to Robert Murphy. By season’s end, Wood stood atop the dais on Grand Final day, holding aloft the Bulldogs’ second Premiership.
Easton Wood (R) and Robert Murphy hold aloft the 2016 Premiership Cup. Source: Getty Images
33. Jim Gallagher
Games: 151 (1951-60)
Goals: 0
Achievements: 1954 Premiership Player, Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Interchange), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member, State Representative (Vic)
Reliable and ever-present, Jim Gallagher rarely missed a game for Footscray during the 1950s, establishing himself as a permanent fixture across the club’s half back line. The fact that he never managed a goal in his career was testament to his disciplined defence-first mentality, as Footscray’s back six became the scourge of the competition. Gallagher’s best season came in 1954, when he was selected to represent Victoria at the start of the year, before later playing a crucial role in the club’s Grand Final victory.
32. Luke Darcy
Games: 226 (1994-2007)
Goals: 183
Achievements: Captain (2005), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member, x1 League MVP (2002), x1 Best and Fairest (2001), x1 All-Australian (2002), x1 Leading Goalkicker (2004), x1 International Rules Series Representative, State Representative (SA)
A second-generation Bulldog, Luke Darcy’s skill and athleticism as a ruckman helped mould him into one of the best players in the competition, and one of the Bulldogs’ most important players for several years. At his best, he was considered a potential Brownlow Medal candidate and was considered one of the favourites to take out the award in 2002, when he also won All-Australian honours and became the first Bulldog to win the league’s MVP award. He was eventually named club captain in 2005, but only held the role for seven games, before season-ending knee injuries in 2005 and 2006 ruined the backend of his career.
31. John Jillard
Games: 189 (1958-1970)
Goals: 1
Achievements: Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Half Back), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member, x1 Best and Fairest (1967), State Representative (Vic)
Reliable and consistent, Jillard was one of the few success stories for Footscray in the 1960s. As the club largely struggled on-field, Jillard was one of its few shining lights across half back, regularly proving himself as one Footscray’s most important players. Despite Footscray’s struggles, Jillard twice recorded a top-ten finish in the Brownlow Medal, and won the club's best and fairest award in 1967. His efforts would later be recognised with inclusion in the Bulldogs Team of the Century.
30. Rohan Smith
Games: 300 (1992-2006)
Goals: 254
Achievements: Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member, x2 All-Australian (1997, 2003), x1 Leading Goalkicker (2001), x4 International Rules Series Representative (1998, 1999, 2000, 2003), State Representative (Vic)
The poster boy for local talent, there are few players on this list whose passion for the Bulldogs rivals that of Rohan Smith, and not many could match his ability, either. The ultimate team player, Smith was frequently used in a variety of different roles during his career, as evidenced by his resume, with his two All-Australian blazers seeing him named at half-forward (in 1997) and half-back (in 2003). A regular Big V representative, Smith announced his retirement on the eve of the 2006 Finals Series, still stuck on 298 games, but a famous Elimination Final win against Collingwood allowed Smith to bow out with 300 appearances to his name.
29. Peter Box
Games: 107 (1951-57)
Goals: 43
Achievements: 1954 Premiership Player, x1 Brownlow Medal (1956), x1 Best and Fairest (1995), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member
Of the 1060 players to represent the Bulldogs, only one of them has won a Premiership, Brownlow Medal, and club Best and Fairest. That man is Peter Box. After overcoming a serious motorcycle accident early in his career, Box demonstrated his skill and became one of the best midfielders in the league. He was named at centre-half forward in the 1954 Grand Final, won the club’s best and fairest award a year later, and became the third Bulldog to win a Brownlow in 1956. Despite playing just 107 games, he can be considered unlucky to have missed out on the clubs Team of the Century. One final interesting quirk about Box’s career is that he is the only Bulldog to represent Australia at the Olympics; he competed in baseball against the US in the 1956 games.
28. Herb Henderson
Games: 130 (1950-58)
Goals: 0
Achievements: 1954 Premiership Player, Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Full Back), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member, State Representative (Vic)
John Coleman is arguably the greatest full-forward of all time and was the star player of the 1950s, but against Footscray his record was comparably poor, and that was all due to the brilliance of Footscray’s full-back at the time, Herb Henderson. Comfortably the finest full-back the Bulldogs have ever had in that position, Henderson was the lynchpin in the Bulldogs defence, regularly tasked with quelling the influence of the opposition’s best key forward, and came out on top more often than not. Footscray’s defence improved drastically once Henderson arrived at the club, and for three years in a row (1953-55), the Bulldogs conceded the fewest points in the competition. Henderson’s role in this was pivotal, and was recognised in 2002 when he was named in the club’s Team of the Century.
27. Dale Morris
Games: 253 (2005-19)
Goals: 3
Achievements: 2016 Premiership Player, x1 All Australian (2008), x1 Night Premiership Player (2010), x1 International Rules Representative (2005), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member
An old-fashioned defender, Dale Morris is the prime example of a footballer who got the absolute most out of himself, and his feats across his career completely justify a spot so high on this list. Overlooked several times early in his career, he was finally given a chance when the Bulldogs added him to the rookie list in 2005. By Round 5, he was making his AFL debut. Tasked with the responsibility of tagging Adelaide legend Andrew McLeod, Morris kept him to just eight touches for the match. As impressive as his debut was, Morris was very quickly moved into defence, playing as an undersized key defender, to regularly getting the better of key forwards much bigger and stronger than he. Aside from his persistence and defensive nous, injuries also played a role right throughout Morris’ career, and a key reason why he only managed 253 games. Some of the nastier injuries include an ACL tear, a fractured vertebrae, and a broken leg, all of which he sustained twice in his career. The most famous injury was the fractured vertebrae he sustained on the eve of the 2016 finals series. Undeterred, Morris played through it, and produced one of the most iconic moments in the club’s history late in the 2016 Grand Final when, in the final few minutes - with a broken back - brought down Buddy Franklin with a strong tackle, allowing Tom Boyd to kick the match-sealing goal.
Dale Morris' role in the Bulldogs 2016 Premiership success will go down in club folklore. Source: Getty Images
26. Brian Royal
Games: 199 (1983-93)
Goals: 299
Achievements: x1 Best and Fairest (1983), x1 All-Australian (1986), State Representative (Vic), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Rover), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member
Brian Royal’s career was largely an ‘almost’ one, falling just short in a number of personal accolades, but still produced more than enough to establish himself as one of the club’s all-time greats. Equally adept on both sides of his body, it took Royal more than a year to make his debut for the club after suffering a serious knee injury, but made an instant impact when he did, winning the club’s best and fairest in his first full season in 1983. From there, he would become one of the finest midfielders of the decade, twice securing top-five finishes in the Brownlow Medal, winning All-Australian honours in 1986, and representing Victoria eight times. His career came to an abrupt end late in the 1993 season, when he snapped his Achilles tendon. The injury left him stranded on 199 games and 299 goals.
25. Matthew Boyd
Games: 292 (2003-17)
Goals: 86
Achievements: 2016 Premiership Player, Captain (2011-13), x3 Best and Fairest (2009, 2011, 2012), x3 All-Australian (2009, 2010, 2016), x1 Night Premiership Player (2010), x2 International Rules Representative (2008, 2010), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member
One of the Bulldogs’ best success stories, Matthew Boyd started his career at the club on the Rookie List, penned in as a dour defender. By the end of it, he was a club legend, and of its most dominant midfielders. Boyd’s move into the midfield came via the arrival of Rodney Eade, where his gut-running and inside work added greatly to the Bulldogs’ depth. Once several senior Bulldogs midfielders had retired, Boyd stood up to the challenge of leading the club’s midfield ranks, winning the club’s Best and Fairest three times and winning consecutive All-Australian honours as the Bulldogs reached the Preliminary Final three years in a row. He was also elevated to club captain following the retirement of Brad Johnson. Just as many thought his career was slowing down after the arrival of Luke Beveridge as coach, Boyd reinvented himself again, becoming a calming influence across half back - the same position where he started his career. The move was a big hit, with Boyd winning his third All-Australian selection in 2016, and being one of the Bulldogs’ best players in their Grand Final victory. By the time he retired in 2017, Boyd held the record for the most finals wins as a Bulldog (8)
24. Tony Liberatore
Games: 283 (1986-2002)
Goals: 95
Achievements: x1 Brownlow Medal (1990), x1 Best and Fairest (1991), x1 All Australian (1990) Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Interchange), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member
Tony Liberatore was the very epitome of a Bulldogs player: tough, ragged, combative and fearless. What he may have lacked in height he more than made up for in fight. It was that aggression and refusal to yield that saw him become a fan favourite among the Bulldogs faithful for over 15 years. Struggling to establish himself in the side during the first few seasons of his career, his breakthrough moment came in 1990, when he won the Brownlow Medal, despite missing the last three games of the season. As his career evolved, Liberatore developed a reputation for being one of the best tacklers in the game, regularly breaking records in that statistic. Despite often drawing the ire of opposition players and supporters for his, at times, unsportsmanlike antics, he also demanded much of himself, and his powers of recovery were remarkable - he once famously recovered from an ACL tear after just 16 weeks - and the tenacity he displayed over his career was rewarded with a spot in the club’s Team of the Century
23. Steve Wallis
Games: 261 (1983-96)
Goals: 57
Achievements: Captain (1989), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member, State Representative (Vic)
A player whose record doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality of the footballer, Wallis was the core cog in the Bulldogs engine room for well over a decade. A defensive-minded player, Wallis often bore the responsibility of assuming roles for the good of the team, but still always found a way to find plenty of the football, particularly early in his career. His 1985 campaign was one of his best, securing a top-five finish in the Brownlow Medal as Footscray reached a Preliminary Final. He led admirably when appointed captain of the club in 1989 - a particularly difficult time for the club, and helped play a crucial role for the Bulldogs in the early 1990s, helping guide the next generation through as the Bulldogs developed into a strong team throughout the decade.
22. Wally Donald
Games: 205 (1946-58)
Goals: 1
Achievements: 1954 Premiership Player, Captain (1956), x1 Best and Fairest (1949), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (Half Back), Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member, State Representative (Vic)
Described by Charlie Sutton as the ‘captain of the backline’, Wally Donald was one of Footscray’s most important players in the 1950s, developing a partnership with full-back Herb Henderson that helped give Footscray its reputation for being one of the best backlines in the game’s history. Ever-reliable, Donald’s defensive discipline held him in good stead as he regularly subdued his direct opponent, but also displayed excellent skill, particularly with his overhead marking and long kicking. Vice-Captain for several seasons, he played a crucial role as acting captain late in the 1954 season while Charlie Sutton was out injured, including leading the club to victory in the Second Semi-Final against Geelong. He finished runner-up in the club’s Best and Fairest that year (for the third year running) after winning the award in 1949, and was named in the Bulldogs Team of the Century.
21. Robert Murphy
Games: 312 (2000-17)
Goals: 183
Achievements: Captain (2015-17), x2 All-Australian (2011, 2015), x1 Night Premiership Player (2010), AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match Representative, Footscray/Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame Member
A skilled talent and a graceful kick, Robert Murphy was the perfect combination of the class of a modern-day footballer with the know-how of an old-fashioned one. His proficiency to hit a target with either foot was an easily recognisable trait that saw him start his career in defence, until the introduction of Rodney Eade as coach saw him become an unlikely star at centre-half forward, regularly being of the best marks in the competition, despite standing at just 187cm. Injuries did hold him back early in his career, most notably suffering an ACL tear in 2006, before a move back into defence saw him return to his absolute best, collecting his first All-Australian blazer in 2011. Perhaps the most crucial moment of his career came at the end of 2014, where he volunteered to take up the role of captain following Ryan Griffen’s departure. The partnership he established with new coach Luke Beveridge saw the Bulldogs undergo a remarkable transformation that saw them go from cellar-dwellers to Premiership within two years. Unfortunately for Murphy, he would be forced to watch the celebrations from the sidelines, after suffering a season-ending knee injury early in the 2016 season.
Matthew Donald's Top 100 Footscray/Western Bulldogs Players of All Time:
100. Alan Martin
99. Stuart Magee
98. Michael McLean
97. Geoff Jennings
96. Tory Dickson
95. Ryan Hargrave
94. Ross Abbey
93. Roger Duffy
92. Tony McGuinness
91. Bailey Dale
90. Ted Whitten Jr
89. Will Minson
88. Mitch Hahn
87. Barry Round
86. Aaron Naughton
85. Terry Wheeler
84. Rick Kennedy
83. Luke Dahlhaus
82. Danny Del-Re
81. Paul Hudson
80. Gary Merrington
79. Ian Bryant
78. Steven Kretiuk
77. Harvey Stevens
76. Andrew Purser
75. Barry Hall
74. Don Ross
73. Josh Dunkley
72. Peter Welsh
71. Lachie Hunter
70. Stephen Power
69. Matthew Croft
68. Leo Ryan
67. Jose Romero
66. Peter Foster
65. John Kerr
64. Simon Atkins
63. Brad Hardie
62. Terry Wallace
61. Laurie Sandilands
60. Caleb Daniel
59. Nathan Brown
58. Steven Kolyniuk
57. Jake Stringer
56. Len McCankie
55. Daniel Cross
54. Allan Collins
53. Stephen Macpherson
52. Lindsay Gilbee
51. Ryan Griffen
50. Jason Johannisen
49. Nathan Eagleton
48. Ian Dunstan
47. Jim Edmond
46. Adam Cooney
45. Daniel Giansiracusa
44. Leon Cameron
43. Dave Bryden
42. Brian Lake
41. Liam Picken
40. Bernie Quinlan
39. David Thorpe
38. Ivan McAlpine
37. Bill Wood
36. Joe Ryan
35. Jackson Macrae
34. Easton Wood
33. Jim Gallagher
32. Luke Darcy
31. John Jillard
30. Rohan Smith
29. Peter Box
28. Herb Henderson
27. Dale Morris
26. Brian Royal
25. Matthew Boyd
24. Tony Liberatore
23. Steve Wallis
22. Wally Donald
21. Robert Murphy
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