The most famed bulldogs guernsey number?

[Ozza]

Angelopetragia's thread about the favourite player of each guernsey number got me thinking...and apologies if this has been done before...but what is the most famed and coveted guernsey number at the Bulldogs?

The four standouts are quite obvious to me - #3, #4, #6 & #7 - and you could possibly make a case for 5 & 2.

#3 -
EJ. "Mr Football". Our most famous player. Premiership player, captain, coach, giant of state footy.
Chris Grant - arguably the best modern day player we had, and him staying at the club had a big say in our future.
Two huge names in our history, some others have worn the #3 well. - but probably the only two big stars in the #3.

#4 -
An emerging famous Bulldog number with the Bont on the trajectory to join the very best ever to wear the red, white and blue. Already 3 x B&F, premiership player and captain.
Other very notables, Norm Ware (Only ever captain/coach to be Brownlow medalist), Brad Hardie (short stint, but a brownlow), Daniel Cross (200+ games).

#6 -
Charlie Sutton, our first premiership captain, and 'Mr Footscray' - embodiment of the history and spirit of the club. Brad Johnson, most ever games as a bulldogs, multiple club champion & goal kicker - one of the very best we've had. Other very notables include Dahlhaus, Georgie Bisset (who I'm told was an absolute star and should have won a brownlow) and for diferent reasons, Neil Sasche, who wore #6 in his tragic 2 game career.

#7 -
Dougie Hawkins, hero of the west and favourite son. Games record holder until Grant and Johnson went past him, B&F winner and star. Scott West - most B&F's for the club, and perennial brownlow place getter. Other notables include Alby Morrison (team of the century), and Lachie Hunter (B&F winner, premiership player).

#5 -
Matt Boyd (multiple B&F's & premiership player), Rohan Smith (300 games, 2 time AA, EJ Whitten medalist), Peter Box (premiership '54, B&F '55, Brownlow '56....must have been a fair player!).

#2
Jack Collins (multiple B&F's, goal kicking (5), Coleman, Premiership...and held the record for most goals in a GF for 30 years). Bob Murphy - (AA captain, premiership captain (technically), heart & soul and voice of the club through its best modern day period.). Bernie Quinlan...more famous as a fitzroy player - but played 177 with us, 179 with them...and by all reports a star at both).

[angelopetraglia]

Great question. However it is no contest for me. #3 stands alone and is the iconic jumper of this club.

Ted Whitten was bigger than game. Immortal of AFL football, not just the Bulldogs. Club games record holder at the end of his career. He played from 1951 to 1970.

We then had Chris Grant who is unanimously the greatest Bulldog in the modern era. Unlucky not to win two Brownlow Medals. Club games record holder at the end of his career. He played from 1990-2007.

Also, Arthur Oliver a champion Ruckman played for 16 Years in the number #3 for 272 games from 1935 to 1950. Club games record holder at the end of his career. He was also captain-coach for seven seasons. He is in the AFL Hall of Fame. He is on the interchange in the Bulldogs Team of the Century.

That's 36 years since 1950 where we have two genuine legends running around in the #3. That's 52+ years of a Captain/Champion/Iconic player running around in a number #3 for the bulldogs in the last 85 years.

Those three players alone played 934 games and kicked 1,268 goals.

[bornadog]

#6 -
Charlie Sutton, our first premiership captain, and 'Mr Footscray' - embodiment of the history and spirit of the club. Brad Johnson, most ever games as a bulldogs, multiple club champion & goal kicker - one of the very best we've had. Other very notables include Dahlhaus, Georgie Bisset (who I'm told was an absolute star and should have won a brownlow) and for diferent reasons, Neil Sasche, who wore #6 in his tragic 2 game career.

Georgie was a star and yes he should have won the Brownlow in 1969 missing by one vote. In round 14 against Carlton at Princes Park, (we lost by 2 points), Georgie was reported by the umpires. In the game he had 31 disposals and kicked 6.4, clearly best on the ground.

In those days, the umpires cast their votes after the game, and if they reported someone they got zero votes. On the Monday at the tribunal the report was not sustained.

Another Bulldog tragedy in the Brownlow voting.

As a kid, he was one of my favorite players.

[comrade]

Let's say Wally has 5 years left in the #3...who is most likely on the current list to be handed the sacred number?

Or does some young star join the club in the next 5 years and shows enough to reach up and grab it?

[Twodogs]

Let's say Wally has 5 years left in the #3...who is most likely on the current list to be handed the sacred number?

Or does some young star join the club in the next 5 years and shows enough to reach up and grab it?

Naughton or English

[comrade]

Naughton or English

I'm going with Marra.

[Jam Donuts]

Naughton or English
Bring Alan Stoneham back!!!

[Eastdog]

Voted for #3
#7 and #6 behind that.

[anfo27]

Let's say Wally has 5 years left in the #3...who is most likely on the current list to be handed the sacred number?

Or does some young star join the club in the next 5 years and shows enough to reach up and grab it?

With list sizes possibly going down for next year, would Wally be one to miss out? Marra could wear the famous number 3 next year!

[Bulldog4life]

Number 3 for me. I saw both Ted and Chris play and I consider myself very lucky. When you add in Arthur Oliver number 3 is a lock. In regards to Georgie Bissett yes he should have beaten Kevin Murray in the Brownlow in '69. He starred the whole year, won the B & F, I was actually at the game at Carlton when he got reported. As an aside he was reported for hitting Ian Robertson who later played with us.For those that didn't read it the following link is an interview Coon Dog had with George on WOOF.

https://www.woof.net.au/forum/archive/index.php/t-3125.html

[Ozza]

Number 3 for me. I saw both Ted and Chris play and I consider myself very lucky. When you add in Arthur Oliver number 3 is a lock. In regards to Georgie Bissett yes he should have beaten Kevin Murray in the Brownlow in '69. He starred the whole year, won the B & F, I was actually at the game at Carlton when he got reported. As an aside he was reported for hitting Ian Robertson who later played with us.For those that didn't read it the following link is an interview Coon Dog had with George on WOOF.

https://www.woof.net.au/forum/archive/index.php/t-3125.html

Was that the 'Robbo' who was a channel 7 commentator when I was a young kid (early 90s) ?

[Twodogs]

Was that the 'Robbo' who was a channel 7 commentator when I was a young kid (early 90s) ?

Yep, that's him.

[Bulldog4life]

Was that the 'Robbo' who was a channel 7 commentator when I was a young kid (early 90s) ?

Yep. I think he was on channel 2 also. Not 100%.