The Return of Footscray

[aker39]

No, I'm not that guy who has his own website about Footscray Not Western Bulldogs, but I do think it would be great for the Bulldogs to have a stand alone team in the AFL and call it Footscray.

With the redeveloped Whitten Oval, I look forward to be able to go and watch Footscray play there.

I't is clear that it is Rocket's preference to have a stand alone team, but how would the AFL view this, with the added expenses, when they are giving us $1.7m a year.

[Sockeye Salmon]

No, I'm not that guy who has his own website about Footscray Not Western Bulldogs, but I do think it would be great for the Bulldogs to have a stand alone team in the AFL and call it Footscray.

With the redeveloped Whitten Oval, I look forward to be able to go and watch Footscray play there.

I't is clear that it is Rocket's preference to have a stand alone team, but how would the AFL view this, with the added expenses, when they are giving us $1.7m a year.

The AFL don't "give" us $1.7mil. It is compensation for getting screwed by the AFL when they can make more money out of someone else.

[GVGjr]

I think we all agree that we would love to see it happen however, on the radio over the weekend the strong mail was that we will just go with Williamstown.

I wonder what impact a Footscray side would have to the Western Bulldogs membership numbers?

[aker39]

The AFL don't "give" us $1.7mil. It is compensation for getting screwed by the AFL when they can make more money out of someone else.



They GIVE us compensation.

[bornadog]

They GIVE us compensation.

yes you can call it that, but don't forget why we get it:

- bad deal at Telstra
- No blockbusters
- Play in ACT instead of multi million dollar deal to play twice in Darwin
just for starters, so they shouldn't dictate how we spend it, but as you said they probably do influence how we spend it.


Love to see a Footscray VFL team and I think membership would increase and so would merchandise spend. I was always a little pissed that Werribee stuck to Tigers as mascot. (let alone the control of our players)

[Twodogs]

yes you can call it that, but don't forget why we get it:

- bad deal at Telstra
- No blockbusters
- Play in ACT instead of multi million dollar deal to play twice in Darwin
just for starters, so they shouldn't dictate how we spend it, but as you said they probably do influence how we spend it.


Love to see a Footscray VFL team and I think membership would increase and so would merchandise spend. I was always a little pissed that Werribee stuck to Tigers as mascot. (let alone the control of our players)


Man am I happy to see the back of that particular aspect of the Werribee allingment. I could have stuck the 'bees as a mascot but the Tiger thing made me sick.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Man am I happy to see the back of that particular aspect of the Werribee allingment. I could have stuck the 'bees as a mascot but the Tiger thing made me sick.

Never once called them Tigers - couldn't do it.

[mjp]

Gotchy has been appointed coach of Willi for 2 years fwiw.

[Go_Dogs]

What the story behind him?

[GVGjr]

Gotchy has been appointed coach of Willi for 2 years fwiw.

I heard some appalling stories of Saade Ghazi coach exploits.

By the way have you heard that Aussie Jones is a candidate for the Sandi Dragons job?

[hargs37]

Have a mate who was involved at Port when Saade Ghazi was coach and said he didn't have a clue. I live in the outer east, and have a slight interest in Box Hill, as a few kids from my local club have gone through there in the last couple of years. But I would travel the miles to take my kids to the Whitten Oval to watch a Footscray team run around in the VFL. And I believe the AFL would support our decision to have a stand alone team in the VFL. They seem pretty supportive of the current board and have a very high opinion of Smorgon and Rose and their ability to do the best thing for the footy club. Wouldn't it be awsome to see the boys run around in either the eighties strip, or even the traditional single red and white bar on blue. Think we would get great crowds( even as good as SANFL). Hope Rocket sticks to his guns!

[Raw Toast]

It's probably too late but perhaps we need to make some calls to the club and write some letters. If the club, and maybe particularly Cam Rose, get a sense of a groudswell of support they might act on it. I'd want them to be pretty confident about the financial side of it though because we don't want to over-reach ourselves and add to our vulnerability...

[LostDoggy]

I was told that the nature of the redevelopment rules out any VFL (or AFL, sadly) football at the WO. Is this true?

[LostDoggy]

I was told that the nature of the redevelopment rules out any VFL (or AFL, sadly) football at the WO. Is this true?

Yeah, people aren't allowed to watch training/matches etc. there until mid 2008 as it is considered a construction zone or something to that effect.

[westdog54]

Yeah, people aren't allowed to watch training/matches etc. there until mid 2008 as it is considered a construction zone or something to that effect.

Making 2009 a distinct possibility, depending on how long we sign up with Williamstown of course.

[azabob]

Footscray is back for the week for retro round.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

Footscray is back for the week for retro round.
Footscray is our identity. We are born out of its soil.
A Smorgan marketing team sabotaged our true identity and gave us robo dog.
Our soul is Footscray betrayed by corporate thinking.

[Flamethrower]

Footscray is our identity. We are born out of its soil.
A Smorgan marketing team sabotaged our true identity and gave us robo dog.
Our soul is Footscray betrayed by corporate thinking.

That may be true but without the rebrand our club would not exist in its current form.

[D Mitchell]

That may be true but without the rebrand our club would not exist in its current form.

Apart from the different name, I very much doubt that. Smorgo's lot got the gig because the previous board were unable to keep their eyes on the bottom line. Hawthorn , St Kilda, Collingwood have managed to dominate the eastern, southern and northern suburbs without having to adopt a newer id. We'll never know. Current solvency is as a result of good governance, regular finals appearances and the Premiership hasn't hurt. We'll never know, though.

[hujsh]

Footscray is our identity. We are born out of its soil.
A Smorgan marketing team sabotaged our true identity and gave us robo dog.
Our soul is Footscray betrayed by corporate thinking.
Robo dog is my soul

[SonofScray]

Great to have our true name and identity back in the spotlight.

[bornadog]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaDRmOJoWN4&ab_channel=WesternBulldogs

[bornadog]

https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-xifbv9v38v/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/1208/3635/2111C049_400_GM_FT__25852.1722232726.png?c=1

[Grantysghost]

https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-xifbv9v38v/images/stencil/1280x1280/products/1208/3635/2111C049_400_GM_FT__25852.1722232726.png?c=1
Is that Veszpremi?

Love the collar, over all though a bit meh.

[comrade]

I wanted the old school Bulldogs emblem on it somewhere.

[Grantysghost]

I wanted the old school Bulldogs emblem on it somewhere.
On the back comrade

https://i.postimg.cc/gJDmsBVc/Screenshot-20240729-174201.png (https://postimg.cc/mztv2jpK)

[SonofScray]

I hope everyone that gets to the game can get a classic "FOOTSCRAY" chant going.

It feels good, rolls off the tongue.

[my plums]

Is that Veszpremi?

Love the collar, over all though a bit meh.

The ASICS gear has always been a bit meh IMO. Would love a new apparel sponsor.

[jazzadogs]

The ASICS gear has always been a bit meh IMO. Would love a new apparel sponsor.

Their form rolled over in to their Australian Olympic uniforms imo.

It feels more like a commemorative jumper than a true retro jumper. If it's for the team of 54 then chuck their names on it somewhere?

[my plums]

Their form rolled over in to their Australian Olympic uniforms imo.

It feels more like a commemorative jumper than a true retro jumper. If it's for the team of 54 then chuck their names on it somewhere?
Yeah yuck as uniforms across the board

[bornadog]

Their form rolled over in to their Australian Olympic uniforms imo.

It feels more like a commemorative jumper than a true retro jumper. If it's for the team of 54 then chuck their names on it somewhere?

Also the design is not correct for 1954.

Here is the actual jumper worn
https://footyjumpers.com/images/Footscray-1946.gif


Note stripes are wider and under the arm pit. Current jumper and retro have stripes too low

[Grantysghost]

The ASICS gear has always been a bit meh IMO. Would love a new apparel sponsor.

They makes good shoes - I think it stops there.

[CarnTheScray]

The ASICS gear has always been a bit meh IMO. Would love a new apparel sponsor.

They can continue to make the half size shoes that fit me but besides that, I have not rated their output much. I liked our 2021 jumper but since then it?s been miss after miss.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Also the design is not correct for 1954.

Here is the actual jumper worn
https://footyjumpers.com/images/Footscray-1946.gif


Note stripes are wider and under the arm pit. Current jumper and retro have stripes too low

This is what grinds me most with ASICS. The stripes are always thin and low, it looks weird.

[bornadog]

This is what grinds me most with ASICS. The stripes are always thin and low, it looks weird.

Who designs the jumper? Is it ASICS or the club sends the design in and they produce it?

[mjp]

Footscray is our identity. We are born out of its soil.
A Smorgan marketing team sabotaged our true identity and gave us robo dog.
Our soul is Footscray betrayed by corporate thinking.

I don't disagree but I hate that this issue splits our membership...

[The bulldog tragician]

While I?d on balance like to return to the Footscray name I find it?s not an issue of passion and angst for me. Staying at our beloved base, retaining the colours and Bulldogs identity are all more important to me. Having said that my Footscray heritage is a matter of pride with my dad growing up a few blocks away and playing for the reserves, my parents being married at Saint John?s West Footscray (I was baptised there as well) and countless other connections.

By the way GG, have you actually visited Footscray Mall and cbd recently? I worked in Footscray up until a few months ago. The actual heart of Footscray is nowhere near the man bun stereotype. It?s down and out and tatty, with a sad predominance of people with mental health issues and homelessness. (I?m a social worker and don?t mean this in a derogatory way, just pointing out a reality far removed from latte culture). The quirky and gentrified areas are Seddon, Yarraville, West Footscray. Though I did laugh when I saw a real estate spiel for a house pin my dads old street, calling its location as the Paris end.

[Grantysghost]

While I?d on balance like to return to the Footscray name I find it?s not an issue of passion and angst for me. Staying at our beloved base, retaining the colours and Bulldogs identity are all more important to me. Having said that my Footscray heritage is a matter of pride with my dad growing up a few blocks away and playing for the reserves, my parents being married at Saint John?s West Footscray (I was baptised there as well) and countless other connections.

By the way GG, have you actually visited Footscray Mall and cbd recently? I worked in Footscray up until a few months ago. The actual heart of Footscray is nowhere near the man bun stereotype. It?s down and out and tatty, with a sad predominance of people with mental health issues and homelessness. (I?m a social worker and don?t mean this in a derogatory way, just pointing out a reality far removed from latte culture). The quirky and gentrified areas are Seddon, Yarraville, West Footscray. Though I did laugh when I saw a real estate spiel for a house pin my dads old street, calling its location as the Paris end.

I was using that for affect to sell my tenuous argument :cool:

I have been and while it's a lot better than it once was it's not the panacea of society; the homelessness issue is massive paired with mental health and something I hope we invest a lot of money into rather than things like Sedat Park and sadly the Whitten Oval.

BTW who wants to go back to the name the Western Oval? Western? WESTERN! Conversely we could be the Whitten Bulldogs.

[bornadog]

I was using that for affect to sell my tenuous argument :cool:

I have been and while it's a lot better than it once was it's not the panacea of society; the homelessness issue is massive paired with mental health and something I hope we invest a lot of money into rather than things like Sedat Park and sadly the Whitten Oval.

BTW who wants to go back to the name the Western Oval? Western? WESTERN! Conversely we could be the Whitten Bulldogs.

Soon to be the Bontempelli Bulldogs :D or Mission Bontempelli Oval

[Rocco Jones]

I put up a bit of a survey on my page.

From my observation, it's a bit turned on it's head from what you'd maybe assume age wise.

Just from comments, it feels 'Western' is most supported by those in the age bracket 50-60. Perhaps this is due to living through us being so poor during the 70s/80s.

Vast majority in the 20-30 bracket seem to actually like the Footscray name, seeing it as hip/more of an attachment than very generic 'Western'.

I am pro Footscray. I definitely wouldn't do it as a nod to the past. I'd do it as I feel it's a better brand name for the future. I find 'Western' very much part of the late 90s/00s generic/least offensive on the palate type branding that also leads to nicknames like Victory and Glory. I kind of feel that if the Tassie team can in that era they'd be called something like Tasmanian Tenacity.

[Rocket Science]

Ladies and gentlemen please give it up for your Generally West of Melbourne But Not The Bellarine Bovine Hounds.

[Grantysghost]

Ladies and gentlemen please give it up for your Generally West of Melbourne But Not The Bellarine Bovine Hounds.
Gold!

You need to use your skills and create a logo for that RS.

[Pleather Sole]

Also the design is not correct for 1954.

Here is the actual jumper worn
https://footyjumpers.com/images/Footscray-1946.gif


Note stripes are wider and under the arm pit. Current jumper and retro have stripes too low

I think they do the stripes lower now to fit the sponsors up top uncrowded. I would buy an unbranded club guernsey for sure, not keen on being a walking billboard.