Left the club, but still a Bulldogs person??

[Go_Dogs]

So we?ve lost a couple of players this off season that I suspect we?ll still consider Bulldogs people even though they may suit up for multiple years with another side. I?m wanting to test the theory.

Who are the players who have left to play with another club during your lifetime that you still consider ?Bulldogs people? and why?

[bulldogtragic]

Liam Jones.

[Go_Dogs]

Liam Jones.

Yep. Was thinking he and Monty are good examples. They actually came back though.

[bulldogtragic]

Yep. Was thinking he and Monty are good examples. They actually came back though.

Changing the rules.

Probably anyone that didn’t really kick on after a good career with us. Maybe Cooney.

[mighty_west]

Templeton and Hawkins to name a few, both will always be Bulldogs, KT to the Dees when his knees were shot and hardly fired a shot, Dougie was no longer wanted by the club but wanted to continue on, suiting up with Fitzroy.

[jazzadogs]

Daniel Cross.

[jeemak]

Roughead.

He's Bullgod through and through. Sure it didn't end as well as it might have, but nobody gets blinded in one eye for a week and then plays a role in a premiership the next weekend and says he belongs to anyone else. He's ours. Always will be.

[GVGjr]

It's going to be a big list. :)

Kelvin Templeton - Played his best football with us and what a footballer he was.
Leon Cameron - Great player, coached with us. I'd be happy to have him back in some capacity.
Keenan Reynolds - Big mistake for him to leave. Good character
Doug Hawkins - I'm not going to let one season at Fitzroy distract from what he achieved
Daniel Cross - Can't blame him.
Ryan Griffen - I wasn't happy with his leaving but there were a few bad weeks that contributed to it.
Adam Cooney - He's just starting to win me back over. Played his best football with us and won the Brownlow.
Josh Dunkley - He's only been gone two years and perhaps in another year or two he will be a Brisbane player in my opinion.

I haven't forgiven the likes of Dempsey and Brown though

I've left a lot off the list.

[The Adelaide Connection]

For a long while post-retirement Cooney seemed to not only be Essendon, but actually quite anti-dogs. I have noticed he has softened quite a lot- maybe enough water has gone under the bridge or maybe his son getting involved in the club has helped things to heal over.

Daniel Cross was the one I was going to say. His speech when he left was a tough watch from memory. Absolutely bled for the place. He has done a fair apprenticeship elsewhere- I would love to see him come back one day.

The lists put forward stole most of the names I was thinking of.

At the risk of derailing things a little, a few bigger names that have maybe gone (or will go) the other way-

Stringer
Higgins
Tony McGuinness (he only played 4 more for the Crows than us)
Nathan Brown
Callan Ward
Lipinski
Bailey Smith (too soon?)

In their own category-

Adam Treloar will be the ultimate fence sitter post-career. I think he genuinely loves both clubs and won't play favourites.

[azabob]

Did Keenan Reynolds leave because of money or something else?

[GVGjr]

Did Keenan Reynolds leave because of money or something else?

Basically money. North offered him more than we wanted to so he left.

[Mofra]

Terry Wheeler - as a player and coach

[merantau]

George Bisset, Laurie Sandilands, Ron Stockman, Douglas Reynolds, Ray Walker, Bob Spargo, Denis Collins, Matthew Hogg, Jon Ballantyne, Greg Epulstun, Kim Koster, Jarrod Harbrow

[1eyedog]

Ben Hudson

[Rocket Science]

Zaine is ours. The Saints are just keeping him warm for us.

I'd like to think Magic McLean too, but I'd be curious to hear his take on the matter.

He played more games for us than his other mob but it's not our Hall of Fame he's in.

[Mofra]

Ben Hudson - the People's Beard

[Grantysghost]

Moz. Does coaching count?

Craig Ellis was always a doggy.

[Axe Man]

George Bisset, Laurie Sandilands, Ron Stockman, Douglas Reynolds, Ray Walker, Bob Spargo, Denis Collins, Matthew Hogg, Jon Ballantyne, Greg Epulstun, Kim Koster, Jarrod Harbrow

Your classification of a Bulldogs Person must be quite different to mine. To me it's if a player can only pick one club from his career that he most closely identifies with, it's the Bulldogs.

I'm not sure about the players on your list from before my time but Hogg, Koster and Harbrow all played far more games for their second teams and Hogg and Koster are premiership players. I don't see how they can be classified as Bulldogs people.

[Bulldog Joe]

Surely Simon Atkins belongs on the list.

Only left because Alan Joyce didn't like him but still managed a Footscray reserves premiership in his last game in our colours.

[comrade]

Everyone but Adam Cooney thinks Adam Cooney will always be a Bulldog.

[mighty_west]

Jimmy Edmond, Magic McLean and Brad Hardie will always be Bulldogs.

[GVGjr]

Everyone but Adam Cooney thinks Adam Cooney will always be a Bulldog.

He appears to changing his tune just a bit.

[chef]

He appears to changing his tune just a bit.

With his son looking likely he's going to have to hey.

[JanLorMill]

I haven't forgiven the likes of Dempsey and Brown though

I've left a lot off the list.
Why? The club was a shambles at the time!

[Doc26]

George Bisset, Laurie Sandilands, Ron Stockman, Douglas Reynolds, Ray Walker, Bob Spargo, Denis Collins, Matthew Hogg, Jon Ballantyne, Greg Epulstun, Kim Koster, Jarrod Harbrow

I’m not aware that Ray Walker left the Bulldogs for any other VFL club.

[Bulldog Joe]

I’m not aware that Ray Walker left the Bulldogs for any other VFL club.

I believe you are right.

Walker moved to Tasmania as coach of Burnie.

[1eyedog]

Jimmy Edmond, Magic McLean and Brad Hardie will always be Bulldogs.

Two B&Fs for Magic and induction into their HoF I think suggests otherwise.

[ledge]

Where do we fit Bevo in this ?
He played and coached us to success,do you think he sees himself as a bulldog and do we ?
I have this strange feeling he is a saints man, probably due to him playing there and his dad’s history there .
I get the feeling he will go back there in some capacity at one stage.

[Bulldog Revolution]

Where do we fit Bevo in this ?
He played and coached us to success,do you think he sees himself as a bulldog and do we ?
I have this strange feeling he is a saints man, probably due to him playing there and his dad’s history there .
I get the feeling he will go back there in some capacity at one stage.

He's our only living premiership coach - hes our games record holder coach

Hes spent more time at the Dogs than any other AFL club

He has family ties to the Saints but he also currently coaches our senior AFL team - Id say he's a bulldog and will always see himself as such

[Bulldog Revolution]

He appears to changing his tune just a bit.

Was he just sucking up the Bombres to set up his media career?

[Eastdog]

Zaine is ours. The Saints are just keeping him warm for us.

I'd like to think Magic McLean too, but I'd be curious to hear his take on the matter.

He played more games for us than his other mob but it's not our Hall of Fame he's in.

Zaine forever a Bulldog premiership player and kicked out first goal of the 2016 GF.

[merantau]

I’m not aware that Ray Walker left the Bulldogs for any other VFL club.

Of course you are right. He had a very successful career as player and coach in Tasmania for two clubs, then went on to a successful business and media career, before taking on roles at the VFL and contributing greatly at the Bulldogs in a number of roles. So, always a Bulldog.

[Scraggers]

Everyone but Adam Cooney thinks Adam Cooney will always be a Bulldog.

I had the pleasure of meeting Adam Cooney an hour before our Elimination Final against the Eagles in 2016. I got a signed Bulldog jumper from him and he had a kick with my son. He kept asking questions like how do you think we'll go tonight? Do you think Bevo has us revved up? etc He was very much a Bulldog then even though he hadn't quite retired from footy (Essendon) at the time.

I think he still considers himself a Bulldog

[The Adelaide Connection]

Three pages and 30+ posts deep and I don't think anyone has mentioned Bob Murphy.

[Bigdog]

From what I?ve heard Brian lake sees himself as a bulldog.

[GVGjr]

From what I?ve heard Brian lake sees himself as a bulldog.

I can recall seeing Brian a couple of times watching training at Skinner reserve. The staff all seemed to go to him and have a chat.

He's had a few rough years but I do recall his exploits on the footy field fondly. He was quite a player and I wish him all the best.

[Grantysghost]

I can recall seeing Brian a couple of times watching training at Skinner reserve. The staff all seemed to go to him and have a chat.

He's had a few rough years but I do recall his exploits on the footy field fondly. He was quite a player and I wish him all the best.
He's been pretty settled last few years.

Coach of Caroline Springs after Brodie Holland.

Seen him a few times, he's looking fit but grey!

[ledge]

Brian goes to our VFL games if Caroline Springs aren’t playing.
Had a chat to him he is friendly and will give you game plans etc that he thinks we are playing.

[merantau]

Brian Lake was a gun. I count him among the best Bulldog defenders I've seen. I rate him along with Herb Henderson, Dave Darcy, Rick Kennedy, Chris Grant, Easton Wood, Dale Morris, Peter Foster, Steven Kretiuk and Matthew Croft

[kruder]

Brain was at the Dogs V Hawks game at the WO in the preseason, definitely one of my favourites. The Hawks looked well off the pace that day to our second string side, they came along way.

[Mofra]

He's been pretty settled last few years.

Coach of Caroline Springs after Brodie Holland.

Seen him a few times, he's looking fit but grey!
Brodie Holland is back coaching Maribyrnong Park isn't he? May have crossed paths with Jordan Croft.
Touk Millar is from that club too, it's quite the football factory. Good bunch of fellas the one night I went there

[Mofra]

And I still cheer for Billy Gowers and I always will

[Axe Man]

And I still cheer for Billy Gowers and I always will

I just read he has quit Port Melbourne:


Taking a punt: Former Dogs forward eyes switch to NFL
Hawthorn president Andy Gowers encouraged his son Billy to try his leg at punting. Now the former Western Bulldogs forward is all-in on a switch of sports.

I can't access the article (Code Sports).

I don't really remember him being a booming kick?

[GVGjr]

Former Western Bulldogs forward Billy Gowers takes a punt on US football career (https://www.codesports.com.au/afl/former-western-bulldogs-forward-billy-gowers-takes-a-punt-on-us-football-career/news-story/72fc0fc3559bd0ce01e4c2d0de71d5fa)

https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/2e0709b152fbf3f6c1e3c1166ef27b12?width=650

Former Western Bulldogs forward Billy Gowers booted 50 goals to win the Jim “Frosty’’ Miller Medal as the VFL’s leading goalkicker this year.

Now he’s taking a punt on another sport: American football.

The 28-year-old son of Hawthorn president Andrew Gowers has quit VFL club Port Melbourne and is training with ProKick Australia three times a week as he sets out to join the NFL punting ranks.

ProKick – founded by former Brisbane and Hawthorn player Nathan Chapman – has put many Australians into full-time college scholarships in the US, including Arryn Siposs.

Gowers is a barber in Port Melbourne and played for Port in the VFL after a stint with Moe in country football last year.

He had a tryout at ProKick as soon as last season finished.

Gowers said his father had sent him on to the punting path.

“I’d always wondered if I’d be any good at it,’’ he said.

“But the first time I touched an NFL ball was the week leading into the last game of the (VFL) season.

“My old man actually called me and posed the question whether I’d consider it, and to start with I thought, ‘No way, I love playing footy, life’s pretty good in Melbourne’.

“But it’s something different … and I thought it was worth trying.

“It’s a bit different from our training. Everyone’s wearing helmets and pads and you’re kicking these pointy balls, just pretty much trying to kick them as high and long as possible. It’s pretty interesting and takes a little bit to wrap your head around.

“In my opinion it’s pretty much the opposite technique for the AFL. It’s quite a high ball drop and you lean back and off two or three steps you try to kick it quite high, whereas with our football you try to penetrate and guide the ball low with your hands and you’ve got less room for error when you release. It’s quite robotic.’’

Gowers added with a laugh: “It’s been an adjustment not having to do too much running – nice!’’

He admitted he’d never been interested in the NFL, laughing at friends who entered fantasy competitions.

But he said his potential switch had given him “almost a new lease on life’’.

“I’m super-excited for it,’’ Gowers said. “It feels like I’m 15 again and trying to get drafted to the AFL. I definitely feel a lot more prepared than what I did going into the AFL even for a sport I’ve never played.

“I’m 28 now and I feel like, mentally, I’m a lot more prepared to take on a change of sports and potentially a move overseas. It’s certainly given me a lot of purpose and drive in the last couple of months.

“The older you get, the more you realise you can’t really plan anything and if you do it doesn’t always go to plan anyway. You’ve got to roll with the punches.’’

He said he went into Port Melbourne’s final game of the season “kind of knowing in my head that it was probably going to be my last game for them’’.

ProKick coach Mackenzie Morgan said Gowers was making encouraging progress and would be a good punter.

He said he had talent and temperament to go with it.

“He’s been more than impressive,’’ Morgan said.

“He can kick it and he’s got power and a good head on his shoulders when it comes to performing. Now the hard part begins, where you’ve got to refine the technique and put your best foot forward to try to go college.’’

Gowers was at two AFL clubs, being drafted to Carlton as a rookie in 2015 and then joining the Bulldogs three years later. He was the Dogs’ leading goalkicker in 2018 and played 33 AFL games.

The Australian contingent in the NFL is strong, Michael Dickson for Seattle, San Francisco’s Mitch Wishnowski, Pittsburgh’s Cameron Johnston, New Orleans’ Matthew Hayball (who beat fellow Australian Lou Hedley for that role) and Chicago’s Tory Taylor all with clubs.

Former St Kilda forward Siposs punted in the Super Bowl in 2023 for the Philadelphia Eagles but was released and is back in Australia.

Eddie McGuire’s son Joe is playing college football with Ohio State as the starting punter, and Essendon legend Dustin Fletcher’s son Max is also making waves.

Punting for the University of Cincinnati, he had a punt returned against a West Virginia opponent last week. Fletcher laid a bruising tackle to stop him. Fans went wild for the Australian in a sport where punters are often not physical players who get involved in tackles or blocks after they boot the ball down field.

[azabob]

I just read he has quit Port Melbourne:



I can't access the article (Code Sports).

I don't really remember him being a booming kick?

Come on Axe. Wrong thread mate.

Should be in the following our Exes thread.

[merantau]

Three pages and 30+ posts deep and I don't think anyone has mentioned Bob Murphy.

Just announced: Bob Murphy and former Channel 7??? "journo" to host the ABC Radio Breakfast Show.

[Axe Man]

Come on Axe. Wrong thread mate.

Should be in the following our Exes thread.

True, was just carrying on a current Gowers mention.

Meanwhile Merantau has gone absolutely rogue