Lost Dogs United FC

[merantau]

Don't know if this has been attempted before but ... here goes.
We have had some of the greatest footballers ever who've played for us. But we've also had many great, and very good, players who've been lost to us as a result of our own actions (often forced), and a multitude of other factors. For example, in the early days ( say 50s and 60s) players could get big money playing and coaching in the country or interstate.

I thought it would be interesting to put together a team for the "Lost Dogs United FC from the following players:

Bones McGhie, David Thorpe, Leon Cameron, Jordan McMahon, Michael McKenna, Mick Martyn, Michael Mclean, Jim Edmond, Neil Cordy, Ben Hudson, Jordan Roughead, Luke Dalhaus, Jake Stringer, Joel Hamling, Greg Epulston, Shaun Higgins, Bernie Quinlan, Barry Round, Doug Hawkins, George Bisset, Brian Wilson, Peter Box, Ray Walker, Ray Huppatz, Gary Dempsey, Kelvin Templeton, Daniel Cross, Matthew Hogg, Fred Cook, Bruce Reid, John Reid, David Darcy, Bob Spargo, Alex Gardiner, Graham Ion, Alan Stoneham, Peter Featherby, Andrew Purser, Jim Sewell, Brad Hardie Laurie Sandilands, Darren Baxter, Brian Lake, Doug Reynolds, Keenan Reynolds, Alan Martin, John Kerr, Ron Stockman, Richard Murrie, Jon Ballantyne, Tony McGuinness - that's 51 players, so enough to pick a Firsts and a Reserves.

There's probably a few I've missed so feel free to add to the list and where we're done start selecting your best 22 plus medical sub.

[Twodogs]

Speaking of Andrew Purser I was checking AFL tables last night and realised that in the 5 seasons he played with us he only ever missed one game. In the 113 games we played between 1983-1987 Purser played in 112 of them. That's amazing durability.

[I'm Not Bitter Anymore!]

From memory he was suspended for striking Brian Taylor. Alistair Ford played in the ruck instead and we lost that game

[Twodogs]

From memory he was suspended for striking Brian Taylor. Alistair Ford played in the ruck instead and we lost that game

I think that you are correct. The game Purser missed was the week after we played Collingwood and BT played for the pies that day. Might have been a square up for a game at the MCG a couple of years before when Taylor hit Terry Wheeler from behind while Taylor was at Richmond. Purser tried to clean BT up on the day but couldn't get to him.

[merantau]

So here's my team for the "Lost Dogs United FC."


Backs: R Walker B Lake B. Hardie
H. B. : N. Cordy D Darcy L. Sandilands
C. : L. Cameron P. Box D. Hawkins
H. F. : J. Edmond B. Quinlan M. McLean
F. : T. McGuinness K. Templeton B. Round
Ruck : G. Dempsey D. Thorpe G. Bisset

INT: A. Purser, D. Cross, R. Spargo, J. Sewell
Med Sub. S. Higgins

[Twodogs]

Backs: J. Roughead B Lake B. Hardie
H. B. : N. Cordy R. McGhie L. Sandilands
C. : L. Cameron B. Wilson. D Hawkins
H. F. : J. Edmond B. Quinlan M. McLean
F. : T. McGuinness K. Templeton B. Round
Ruck : G. Dempsey D. Thorpe G. Bisset

INT: J. Stringer D. Cross, A. Stoneham, J. Hamling
Med Sub. S. Higgins

Team totally made up of players who went to other league clubs. Six Brownlow medalists, six premiership players.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

So here's my team for the "Lost Dogs United FC."


Backs: R Walker B Lake B. Hardie
H. B. : N. Cordy D Darcy L. Sandilands
C. : L. Cameron P. Box D. Hawkins
H. F. : J. Edmond B. Quinlan M. McLean
F. : T. McGuinness K. Templeton B. Round
Ruck : G. Dempsey D. Thorpe G. Bisset

INT: A. Purser, D. Cross, R. Spargo, J. Sewell
Med Sub. S. Higgins

So Ricky rather than Bob Spargo?
Used to kick a footy with Ricky when I was six. Bob joined us once. They lived a few doors from me in 81 Droop Street, they in the firebrigade flats.
Great to heat their names again.
Twodogs you're too young to include a Spargo.
Like Higgins as medical sub.
Coach Mick Malthouse?
Would give our current team a run for its moneyespecially as drop kicks and torpedos would be legal.
I remember a few David Darcy torps.

[bornadog]

Backs: J. Roughead B Lake B. Hardie
H. B. : N. Cordy R. McGhie L. Sandilands
C. : L. Cameron B. Wilson. D Hawkins
H. F. : J. Edmond B. Quinlan M. McLean
F. : T. McGuinness K. Templeton B. Round
Ruck : G. Dempsey D. Thorpe G. Bisset

INT: J. Stringer D. Cross, A. Stoneham, J. Hamling
Med Sub. S. Higgins

Team totally made up of players who went to other league clubs. Six Brownlow medalists, six premiership players.

Great team TD

[Twodogs]

Great team TD

Gotta come up with a team of players we've recruited from other clubs now.

[Jeanette54]

Two names stand out to me, David Darcy and Ray Walker. I am old enough to remember them playing; and always thought they had retired. Does anybody know where they went after leaving the 'Dogs?

David Darcy would give a modern coach heart failure with those beautiful drop kicks when kicking the ball in after a point was scored. And I seem to remember Ray Walker earning a spot in the big white Vee on at least one occasion. He was one of a long line of great back pocket players that we seemed to be able to breed back then. Charlie Evans, Ian Bryant, Ray Walker, Gordon Casey and Terry Wheeler. Must have been something in the water back then.

[merantau]

So Ricky rather than Bob Spargo?
Used to kick a footy with Ricky when I was six. Bob joined us once. They lived a few doors from me in 81 Droop Street, they in the firebrigade flats.
Great to heat their names again.
Twodogs you're too young to include a Spargo.
Like Higgins as medical sub.
Coach Mick Malthouse?
Would give our current team a run for its moneyespecially as drop kicks and torpedos would be legal.
I remember a few David Darcy torps.

No, I mean R (Bob) Spargo. I'm pretty sure he always appeared on the team sheet ats "R. Spargo." Wore number 8. A terrific player. Long striding, roaming centreman. Great kick who was really fit. Stawell Gift finalist. I was really cut when he went West to captain-coach West Perth, I believe.

By the way, do you know what junior club he played for? Russell Holmesby has him playing for Braybrook but that is incorrect.

[merantau]

Two names stand out to me, David Darcy and Ray Walker. I am old enough to remember them playing; and always thought they had retired. Does anybody know where they went after leaving the 'Dogs?

David Darcy would give a modern coach heart failure with those beautiful drop kicks when kicking the ball in after a point was scored. And I seem to remember Ray Walker earning a spot in the big white Vee on at least one occasion. He was one of a long line of great back pocket players that we seemed to be able to breed back then. Charlie Evans, Ian Bryant, Ray Walker, Gordon Casey and Terry Wheeler. Must have been something in the water back then.

Throw Mick Egan and Mathew Hogg into the mix too Jeanette. We had that many Owen Madigan, Footscray through and through had to cross to Richmond to get a game.

[merantau]

Two names stand out to me, David Darcy and Ray Walker. I am old enough to remember them playing; and always thought they had retired. Does anybody know where they went after leaving the 'Dogs?

David Darcy would give a modern coach heart failure with those beautiful drop kicks when kicking the ball in after a point was scored. And I seem to remember Ray Walker earning a spot in the big white Vee on at least one occasion. He was one of a long line of great back pocket players that we seemed to be able to breed back then. Charlie Evans, Ian Bryant, Ray Walker, Gordon Casey and Terry Wheeler. Must have been something in the water back then.

David Darcy was transferred by his employer to South Australia. While there he played for South Adelaide for a season. Then he came back and played for us for a few years before returning to South Adelaide

Ray Walker went to play and coach very successfully in Tasmania from 1965 to 1970. He captain-coached Burnie to the Premiership in 1966 and finished up coaching the Penguin FC.

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

No, I mean R (Bob) Spargo. I'm pretty sure he always appeared on the team sheet ats "R. Spargo." Wore number 8. A terrific player. Long striding, roaming centreman. Great kick who was really fit. Stawell Gift finalist. I was really cut when he went West to captain-coach West Perth, I believe.

By the way, do you know what junior club he played for? Russell Holmesby has him playing for Braybrook but that is incorrect.
Bob Spargo didn’t play at Braybrook. He was one of many that came out of the highly successful Footscray 5ths team that included the likes of John Jillard, Graeme and Barry Ion, Charlie Evans, Cam McDonald, Merv Hobbs and Bob Ware.

[1eyedog]

Great team TD

If we're gonna throw players in there willy nilly I'd have Nathan Brown before Joel Hamling.

His last two years with us were about as good as it gets.

[Grantysghost]

Simon Atkins, Craig Ellis, Tyson Lane, Shane Ellen, Kym Koster spring to mind. Adrian Campbell maybe.

[GVGjr]

So here's my team for the "Lost Dogs United FC."


Backs: R Walker B Lake B. Hardie
H. B. : N. Cordy D Darcy L. Sandilands
C. : L. Cameron P. Box D. Hawkins
H. F. : J. Edmond B. Quinlan M. McLean
F. : T. McGuinness K. Templeton B. Round
Ruck : G. Dempsey D. Thorpe G. Bisset

INT: A. Purser, D. Cross, R. Spargo, J. Sewell
Med Sub. S. Higgins

Just some others spring to mind although I see Twodogs has picked a couple of them.
Wilson, Dunstan, Featherby, Tregenza, Stoneham, Baxter, Brown, Hudson, Hogg, Koster, and Osborne.

I think I could some others as well.

I'm not sure how many would force their way into your line-up.

[Grantysghost]

Just some others spring to mind although I see Twodogs has picked a couple of them.
Wilson, Dunstan, Featherby, Tregenza, Stoneham, Baxter, Brown, Hudson, Hogg, Koster, and Osborne.

I think I could some others as well.

I'm not sure how many would force their way into your line-up.

Did Dimmatina go to the Tigers for a season?

[bornadog]

Did Dimmatina go to the Tigers for a season?

He was originally drafted by Richmond but didn't play a senior game, just reserves. Left Richmond played in the VFA, then Carlton reserves and Essendon reserves before we picked him up. His father played for Richmond.

[westdog54]

Gotta come up with a team of players we've recruited from other clubs now.

Joel Hamling qualifies for both teams.

Does the player need to have played a senior game for their old club to qualify? Tony Libba gets a guernsey if not.

[merantau]

If we're gonna throw players in there willy nilly I'd have Nathan Brown before Joel Hamling.

His last two years with us were about as good as it gets.

I deliberately excluded him. On ability and performance he is probably top 23 but the "big picture" includes more than just snagging goals, having a good left foot and a bit of dash. He was, without doubt, a very good footballer.

[merantau]

Players recruited from other VFL/AFL teams:

Harvey Stevens, Josh Mahoney, Ben Harrison, Phil Krakoèur, Todd Curley, Stuart Magee, Bruce Duperouzel, Nicky Winmar, Richard Osborne, Chris Hansen, Peter Foster, Les Bamblett, Greg Park, Phil Maylin, Aidrian Gallagher, John Moylan, Steve Hoffman, Alan Jakovich, Emmet Dunn, Mathew Robbins, Paul Dimattina, Graeme Schultz, Tony Buhagiar, Max Crow, Garry Cowton, Jose Romero, Luke Beveridge, Tony Campbell, Dean Chiron, Terry Wallace, Ken Newland, Ian Hampshire, Stephen Lunn, Tim Gepp, Alan Thorpe, Greg Towns, James Cook, Jason Akermanis, Barry Hall, Ben Hudson, Daniel Bandy, Kingsley Hunter, Koby Stevens, Trent Bartlett, Patrick Vezpremi, Brody Moles, Scott Welsh, Andrew McDougal, Aaron James, Mal Eaves, Alan Edwards, Steven Koops, Cam Faulkner?, Stephen Tiller, Jayde Rawlings, Billy Gowers Con Gorozidis, Ken Greenwood, John Reilly, Robert Klomp, Paul Hudson, Jed Adcock, Russell Tweedale, Neil Peart, Bill Berry, Nick Lower, Simon Minton-Connell - and the list goes on

[merantau]

Delete

[1eyedog]

I deliberately excluded him. On ability and performance he is probably top 23 but the "big picture" includes more than just snagging goals, having a good left foot and a bit of dash. He was, without doubt, a very good footballer.

Fair enough. I think he is more talented than Higgins and has the X factor that Higgins lacks. A more dynamic player that demands a better opposition player as well. Brown was far more likely to win a match off his own boot than Higgins.

No one list is ever going to please everyone.

A team list of players that arrived from other clubs would be interesting as well.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

Did Dimmatina go to the Tigers for a season?

Dimma told me he was jealous of his brother playing at Collingwood in front of big crowds.

[BornInDroopSt'54]

Of course Robert!
No idea of junior club I'm afraid.

[Twodogs]

Has anyone mentioned that Ryan Griffin bloke? Simon Cox too.

[Twodogs]

Joel Hamling qualifies for both teams.

Does the player need to have played a senior game for their old club to qualify? Tony Libba gets a guernsey if not.

Oh! Now there's a team "players who came from another club and went to another club. Gary Cowton, Robbie McGhie, Bill Berry, Ben Hudson, Jim McAllister, Mark Kellett off the top of my head.

[merantau]

Has anyone mentioned that Ryan Griffin bloke? Simon Cox too.

Strange how the brain works! You would think I'd recall instantly a bloke who played 203 games for us, won a B&F and was club captain - but I didn't! I wonder why? Simon Cox - I liked him. Went to Hawthorn. Wayde Skipper was another who went to Hawthorn. Callan Ward - I was very disappointed when he left. Luke Penny went to St Kilda. Denis Collins - top footballer. Went to Richmond then Carlton
Michael Frost - he was a talent who looked like he was going to make it. Went to St.Kilda.

[merantau]

Of course Robert!
No idea of junior club I'm afraid.

Nuggety Back Pocket points out that he came through Footscray 5ths. I'm guessing that was an Under 17 team that played in the FDFL. Someone will be able to confirm.

[bornadog]

Joel Hamling qualifies for both teams.

.

Joel never played a senior game for Geelong

[Grantysghost]

Has anyone mentioned that Ryan Griffin bloke? Simon Cox too.

Ward and Reid fit into that same dog pound.

[The Doctor]

Backs: N.Cordy Lake Hardie
H. B. : McLean Hamling, Cameron
C. : Dunstan Stoneham Hawkins
H. F. : Edmond Quinlan Higgins
F. : Brown Templeton Huppatz
Ruck : Dempsey Griffen McGuinness

INT: Stringer, Featherby, Wilson, Round

Med Sub: M.West

[merantau]

Losing M.West to injury was a huge blow. He had a lot of ability and was very hard at it. He really stood out.

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

Players recruited from other VFL/AFL teams:

Harvey Stevens, Josh Mahoney, Ben Harrison, Phil Krakoèur, Todd Curley, Stuart Magee, Bruce Duperouzel, Nicky Winmar, Richard Osborne, Chris Hansen, Peter Foster, Les Bamblett, Greg Park, Phil Maylin, Aidrian Gallagher, John Moylan, Steve Hoffman, Alan Jakovich, Emmet Dunn, Mathew Robbins, Paul Dimattina, Graeme Schultz, Tony Buhagiar, Max Crow, Garry Cowton, Jose Romero, Luke Beveridge, Tony Campbell, Dean Chiron, Terry Wallace, Ken Newland, Ian Hampshire, Stephen Lunn, Tim Gepp, Alan Thorpe, Greg Towns, James Cook, Jason Akermanis, Barry Hall, Ben Hudson, Daniel Bandy, Kingsley Hunter, Koby Stevens, Trent Bartlett, Patrick Vezpremi, Brody Moles, Scott Welsh, McDougal, Aaron James, Mal Eaves, Alan Edwards, Steven Koops, Cam Faulkner?, Stephen Tiller, Jayde Rawlings, Billy Gowers Con Gorozidis, Ken Greenwood, John Reilly, Robert Klomp, Paul Hudson, Jed Adcock, Russell Tweedale - and the list goes on
Of all these players there was only Harvey Stevens that was to play in one of our Premierships in 1954, playing a key role in the win over Melbourne

[Happy Days]

I can think of one player who we recruited from another club that played a key role in a premiership. From a New South Wales club at the end of 2014 when the club was at its lowest ebb, whose recruitment signalled to the rest of the competition that we were alive and kicking. Much maligned but produced an unforgettable Grand Final that none of us will ever forget.

[merantau]

I can think of one player who we recruited from another club that played a key role in a premiership. From a New South Wales club at the end of 2014 when the club was at its lowest ebb, whose recruitment signalled to the rest of the competition that we were alive and kicking. Much maligned but produced an unforgettable Grand Final that none of us will ever forget.

He will always be remembered as a Bulldog Hero.

[Happy Days]

He will always be remembered as a Bulldog Hero.

Runs a pretty good Instagram account too.

[merantau]

I can think of one player who we recruited from another club that played a key role in a premiership. From a New South Wales club at the end of 2014 when the club was at its lowest ebb, whose recruitment signalled to the rest of the competition that we were alive and kicking. Much maligned but produced an unforgettable Grand Final that none of us will ever forget.

He will always be remembered as a Bulldog Hero.

[merantau]

Nuggety Back Pocket points out that he came through Footscray 5ths. I'm guessing that was an Under 17 team that played in the FDFL. Someone will be able to confirm.

Confimed by Nuggety Back Pocket it was an U/16 team entered in the FDL and coached by the wonderful Norm Gardner (dec. 2004)

[EasternWest]

I can think of one player who we recruited from another club that played a key role in a premiership. From a New South Wales club at the end of 2014 when the club was at its lowest ebb, whose recruitment signalled to the rest of the competition that we were alive and kicking. Much maligned but produced an unforgettable Grand Final that none of us will ever forget.

Shane Biggs was pretty great.

[westdog54]

Deleted.

[merantau]

Shane Biggs was pretty great.

Shane Biggs #NeverForget

https://youtu.be/sXftCtcv5PU

[Bulldog4life]

Deleted.

Deleted posts are very intriguing.

[merantau]

Deleted posts are very intriguing.

The ones I delete are double posts due to my technological deficiencies!