The Western Bulldogs can't return to the past

[Grantysghost]

I don't post often guys, but the inaugural Adelaide Crows (pfft) captain being a "footscray" supporter was too good not to share. This is behind the Adelaide Advertiser paywall so let's see if my Google link magically allows you guys to read this. Mods apologies, do what's required to satisfactorily categorise this thread. Maybe under woof/wtf.

Link (https://www.google.com/url?rct=j&sa=t&url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/expert-opinion/chris-mcdermott/bones-beef-the-western-bulldogs-cant-return-to-the-past-even-if-some-afl-fans-cant-let-go/news-story/b7df6d51c1e6bc3312fbf6d0c89193ac&ct=ga&cd=CAEYACoUMTc2OTMyNTMyNTkzMzQzNDYyMjQyGjIzODI3MzAxMzU4Mzg4Y 2M6Y29tOmVuOlVT&usg=AFQjCNHeCv-U9W5oZ2CC1AoaH8DwozGd-Q)

[Grantysghost]

Chris McDermott, The Advertiser
May 17, 2017 11:30am

I’M a self confessed Footscray fan and have been since I can remember.

Footscray that is, not the Western Bulldogs.

I followed Woodville in the SANFL and Footscray in the VFL and, yes, it’s fair to say there weren’t too many completely happy Saturday afternoons in winter growing up.

Wins seemed rare for either team but it was fun when they happened.

My love for Footscray came from my grandfather, Les Dayman, who played 32 games with the Bulldogs from 1932 to 1934 and was their leading goalkicker in his first season.

My search through the history books showed he played a season with Crows defender Daniel Talia’s great grandfather, Arthur Stevens, in 1932.

Woodville great Ray Huppatz went there in the ‘70s which only enhanced my passion for them.

Phil Maylin followed in the mid ‘80s. They could’ve changed their name to the Western Peckers!

The “Western Bulldogs” got the nod.

You gotta love marketing — or do you?

There has been a groundswell of support from a minority in recent years to change the name back to Footscray, to rediscover and recognise the club’s history. Its working class roots.

That history is something to be very proud of.

My emails have been bombarded with Bulldogs fans, one in particular, wanting to wind the clock back and have Footscray acknowledged once again.

The Western Bulldogs have had their day, it’s time to go back to the past, they say.

Marketing! Change the name and the membership will fly, they reckon.

Not necessarily so.

The first game played by the newly named “ Western Bulldogs back in 1997 drew a crowd of less than 9000 fans. It wasn’t an overwhelming vote of confidence in the new era.

Fast forward 20 years and the Dogs’ next premiership has been delivered courtesy of new coach Luke Beveridge and his new-look team.

The Western Bulldogs song was sung loud and proud by all the Doggies faithful on that unforgettable day.

There can be no turning back, yet the undercurrent of discontent remains.

Put the Footscray back into the Western Suburbs is the call.

Times have changed, even if the voices crying for a return to the past won’t stop.

Neither will the emails but the moment has passed.

Another premiership this season could well silence them forever.

The sons of the West are here to stay.

They are going no where except to another grand final.

[comrade]

Seems pretty weird that this would be published in an Adelaide paper.

[Go_Dogs]

I look forward to the day this talk ends.

[Grantysghost]

I look forward to the day this talk ends.

10 out of 20 finals series as the Western Bulldogs.

[bulldogtragic]

I look forward to the day this talk ends.

But these 10,000 members are just and only waiting for this to happen before signing up.....

[jeemak]

If this guy's getting endless emails I wonder how many Victorian journos are being smashed with them.

[Twodogs]

We. Have. A. Footscray.

[jeemak]

We. Have. A. Footscray.

But.....but.........it's just.....but..........history but.

I remember the Williamstown fans visiting Whitten Oval for the first VFL final played there - where we came back but my Scottish father insisted upon leaving just before three quarter time on the day I tried to make him happy - in our premiership year, and in two different instances people in Williamstown bomber jackets told me how they used to barrack for our club but stopped when the name was changed to Western Bulldogs.

Genuinely, I couldn't believe it, much like I don't understand anything that is not generally aligned with apathy.

[jeemak]

BTW - Passion for the Bulldogs proves my apathy rule.