Callan Ward - Grandson of a Gunn

[The Coon Dog]

Andrea Petrie - The Age - 5 March

http://images.theage.com.au/2010/03/04/1194693/ward_main-420x0.jpg
Western Bulldogs supporter Eddie Sutherland and
midfielder Callan Ward, the grandson of Bill Gunn.


Callan Ward has talent to burn, and an esteemed blood line.

IF YOU ask life-long Western Bulldogs supporter Eddie Sutherland about midfielder Callan Ward, he'll tell you he's an ''out-and-out champion''.

''I reckon he'd be the youngest kid who's come to Footscray at 17 and had talent straight away,'' Sutherland said.

''Everyone says you've got to have experience to play in the midfield, but Ward came straight in. You don't do that unless you're real good.''

Article in full... (http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/grandson-of-a-gunn-20100304-plra.html)

[mjp]

''I reckon he'd be the youngest kid who's come to Footscray at 17 and had talent straight away,'' Sutherland said.


Chris Grant maybe?

[Mantis]

Chris Grant maybe?

Yeah, I think Eddie forgot about Chris.

To kick 50 goals in his first year as a 17 year old means he had a little bit of talent.

[Go_Dogs]

Ward only played a handful of games in his first season too - yes he looked fairly good doing so, and obviously had his HS commitments etc but to say he was the best first year player, ever, is a fair stretch imo.

[ledge]

How good and how old was EJ in his first season?

[Hotdog60]

From the AFL tables

Ted Whitten
Born: 27-Jul-1933 (Debut:17y 268d Last:36y 279d)

184 cm 89 kg

VFL/AFL:6076th player to appear, 27th most games played, 107th most goals kicked
Footscray:377th player to appear, 5th most games played, 7th most goals kicked

[ledge]

My question is was his first year as good as Wards?

[bornadog]

From the AFL tables

Ted Whitten
Born: 27-Jul-1933 (Debut:17y 268d Last:36y 279d)

184 cm 89 kg

VFL/AFL:6076th player to appear, 27th most games played, 107th most goals kicked
Footscray:377th player to appear, 5th most games played, 7th most goals kicked

Chris Grant 17 yrs 109 days - best debut ever and debuted with Leon Cameron who was 17yrs and 218d, averaging 19 disposals per game (20 games in 1990)

Ronnie James was only 16yrs 157 days.

[ledge]

What about Doug Hawkins and Brian Wilson, i imagine they would have had good first years too.

[Nuggety Back Pocket]

Andrea Petrie - The Age - 5 March

http://images.theage.com.au/2010/03/04/1194693/ward_main-420x0.jpg
Western Bulldogs supporter Eddie Sutherland and
midfielder Callan Ward, the grandson of Bill Gunn.


Callan Ward has talent to burn, and an esteemed blood line.

IF YOU ask life-long Western Bulldogs supporter Eddie Sutherland about midfielder Callan Ward, he'll tell you he's an ''out-and-out champion''.

''I reckon he'd be the youngest kid who's come to Footscray at 17 and had talent straight away,'' Sutherland said.

''Everyone says you've got to have experience to play in the midfield, but Ward came straight in. You don't do that unless you're real good.''

Article in full... (http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/grandson-of-a-gunn-20100304-plra.html)

Forget the 17 year old comparisons. Whitten, Hawkins and Grant became club champions. Callan Ward has made an excellent debut into senior ranks and looks likely to have a wonderful career at the Bulldogs. His late Grandfather, Bill Gunn was a champion for South Melbourne and good judges suggest he was extremely unlucky not to make the Swans Team of the Century. Bill Gunn also shared a competition best and fairest award with Ted Whitten in the then Footscray District League's Under 18 League.

[craigsahibee]

Unfortunately for Callan, I can't see him having the same longevity in the game as "The Great Man" purely because of his ferocity and unrelenting attack on the footy. Having said that, I have no doubt that in 10 years time he will not be out of place next to the great No. 3's, 7's and 6's this great club has produced over the years.