The time is upon us to announce the last five players of this special opening article for the 2018 year at Bulldogs Centre. Over this past week, we have named our top 25 players over the past 25 years, players who served at the club from 1993 up until now.
In case you missed it, positions 25-6 are as follows:
25. Nathan Brown
24. Jack Macrae
23. Easton Wood
22. Jason Johannisen
21. Ryan Hargrave
20. Matthew Croft
19. Ryan Griffen
18. Leon Cameron
17. Liam Picken
16. Lindsay Gilbee
15. Adam Cooney
14. Daniel Giansiracusa
13. Luke Darcy
12. Tony Liberatore
11. Daniel Cross
10. Dale Morris 9. Scott Wynd
8. Brian Lake
7. Marcus Bontempelli
6. Rohan Smith
For Full Explanations Click Below For The Following:
Apologies
Just some quick apologies before I get underway, For those who were wondering why Jason Akermanis or Barry Hall might not have appeared, I left them out simply because they didn’t play enough games to be considered, as good as they’ve been.
I didn’t have room for Jose Romero, as much as I would’ve liked, he would’ve most likely been the 26th man, and also a special mention for Simon Garlick, who was also strongly considered. For those that might be wondering whether or not Doug Hawkins got a spot in this top five, he didn’t. My reasoning for that is that he played predominantly in the 1980s, and played his last year for the club in 1994. So now if you’re up to date, let’s get started with the top five players over the past 25 years.
5. Matthew Boyd
Played At The Western Bulldogs From 2002-2017 Career Games: 292 Career Goals 86
Matthew Boyd will forever be known as one of the greatest rookie draft selections of all time. Coming in to the AFL as an unknown via the 2002 Rookie Draft from VFL club Frankston, everybody knew, loved and respected Boyd by the time he finished his career last year, despite finishing just eight games shy of the magical 300 game milestone. Boyd didn’t have the flash or finesse that other players did, but what made him such a standout and such a great player to watch was his extraordinary work ethic, particularly in the midfield during the Doggies’ run at the Finals between 2008-10. Boyd was appointed captain ahead of the 2011 season, following the retirement of Brad Johnson and did his best to lead his charges by example.
Boyd earned most of his achievements in the midfield, winning three Charles Sutton Medals (2009, 2011 and 2012) and was a three-time All-Australian. However, incoming coach Luke Beveridge moved Boyd to the back-line ahead of the 2015 season, somewhat rejuvenating his career. The last of those All-Australian selections (2009 and 2011) came in the Doggies’ premiership year in 2016, when Boyd shouldered a big work load following long-term injuries to Jason Johannisen, Dale Morris, Robert Murphy and Easton Wood. Boyd played a massive role in their triumph that year, and the premiership medal capped off what had been an already pretty successful career. Whilst Boyd struggled for a spot in the senior team in his final year, he will be forever remembered as one of Footscray’s finest players from the 21st century.
4. Robert Murphy Played At The Western Bulldogs From 2000-2017 Career Games: 312 Career Goals: 183
When this skinny and mild-mannered young lad from Warragul was drafted by the club in 1999, not many people could've predicted the influence that Robert Murphy had on this side. What he lacked in physical stature, he more than made up for it with his skills, poise, stellar leadership and excellent decision-making skills. His ability to play well either as a forward or at his preferred position on the half-back line was widely regarded all throughout Murphy's career. Under Rodney Eade, he averaged well over a goal per game from 2005-2008, before he returned to defence, where he excelled the most.
It was in defence that he was a two-time All-Australian, once in 2011 and again in 2015. It was also in 2015 that saw Murphy really stand out in his first year as captain, taking over from former captain Ryan Griffen as he headed north to GWS. Murphy excelled and relished the role as captain to become not just the captain of the 2015 All-Australian team, but he was also voted by the AFLPA as the best captain of the league - ultimately he would lead the Bulldogs to their first Finals Series since 2010. A ruptured ACL early in the 2016 season meant that Murphy ultimately missed being a part of the 22 that won the premiership, but even without the Grand Final medallion, it's hard not to recognise Robert Murphy and what he has done for the club in his 18 years.
3. Scott West Played At The Western Bulldogs From 1993-2008 Career Games: 324 Career Goals: 104
Given the number of accolades that Scott West has achieved, people would say that he could be amongst the greatest Bulldogs of all time, yet in this top 25, he could only go third because the next two are perhaps even greater, but don't let that distract you from the fact that he is a record-setting seven-time Charles Sutton Medallist and five-times he was selected in the All-Australian team. West was amongst one of the game's best on-ballers throughout the late 1990s up until the tail-end of his career, and his numerous club best and fairests will back it up.
Basically from the moment Scott West began his career at the Bulldogs, he was going to be something very special. In just his fourth game of league footy, he kicked six goals on Essendon and earned himself three Brownlow votes. Less than two years later, West inherited the famous number seven guernsey from another club legend in Doug Hawkins who departed to Fitzroy ahead of the 1995 season. From there, he became a full-time midfield star. Most experts and fans will describe West as an in-and-under midfielder who could accumulate disposals at will, but it wasn't just that, he had a very smart football brain. It was because of all of those factors that he came agonisingly close to winning the Brownlow Medal on numerous occasions, and is among many household names that never won the prestigious honour. West only played four games in his final season due to a knee injury and eventually retired after he was told that the club weren't going to renew his contract beyond 2008.
2. Chris Grant Played At The Western Bulldogs From 1989-2007
Career Games: 341
Career Goals: 554
It's not often that clubs have a 105th pick in the AFL Draft, but in 1988, the Western Bulldogs used this pick to pluck out a 15-year old boy from Daylesford by the name of Christopher Lee Grant. Little did they know at the time he was drafted that they had picked up the biggest steal in AFL Draft history, as by the end of his career, Grant would become one of the greatest players in Bulldogs' history, but he would become one of the league's biggest stars of the 1990s. His loyalty to the club also played a huge reason as to why Grant was so well-loved by the Bulldog faithful, as he knocked back a lucrative offer to join Port Adelaide for the 1997 season.
In his first season, as a 17-year old, he would kick over 50 goals, which remains unmatched by any teenager to this day. His strong hands and silky skills, made it a nightmare for opposition defenders. By 1994, Grant would have his first Charles Sutton Medal after a fine season, which saw him kick 71 goals for the year. Like West, he is in the category of players that should have a Brownlow Medal to their name. In 1996, he was a vote shy of joint-winners Michael Voss and James Hird and in 1997, a controversial one-week suspension cost Grant the medal after he lead all vote-getters after round 22, rendering him ineligible to win the award. To this day, it not only remains a huge travesty in Bulldogs' history, but Grant remains the only person in AFL history to have been an ineligble player that was on top at the end of a Brownlow count.
But the accolades that Grant achieved at his time for the Dogs will be remembered. A two-time Charles Sutton Medallist in 1994 and 1996, a three-time All-Australian from 1997-99 and a captain of the club from 2000-04. Grant was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in 2012 and will be forever remembered as a true great of the football club.
1. Brad Johnson
Played At The Western Bulldogs From 1994-2010
Career Games: 364 Career Goals: 558
A Bulldogs supporter growing up, Brad Johnson would go on to be recruited by the club with their first pick in the 1993 AFL Draft, and not only would he prove to be one of the greatest Bulldogs to ever play the game, he was amongst som of the game’s best players throughout the 21st century. Johnson was blessed with sublime skill and possessed elite speed, and along with his impressive work rate and the willingness to get the best out of himself week in, week out, it’s really no surprise that he is number one on this list.
Initially, Johnson was able to play as a half-forward or full-time in the midfield, and was able to do so with good effect on the team, being apart of the Western Bulldogs’ Preliminary Finals teams of 1997-98. Johnson often averaged over 20 disposals and at least a goal per game over most seasons, that was how important to the team he was. He was a three-time Charlie Sutton Medallist (1999, 2002 and 2006) and was named a six-time All-Australian (1999, 2000, 2002, 2005-07), including one time as captain in 2006. It would be around this time that saw Johnson make the switch to the club’s undersized full-forward when Rodney Eade was appointed coach for the 2005 season. From there Johnson flourished, and by 2006, standing in as captain for the injured Luke Darcy, Johnson would kick 74 goals for the year and just missed out on a Coleman Medal, losing out to Brendan Fevola, he would lead all Bulldogs in goals kicked from season 2005-07 and would be that man who could kick the Dogs a match-winning bag.
Johnson would go on to be appointed full-time captain from 2007 up until retirement. He broke the all-time game’s record in 2009, breaking Chris Grant’s 341 games and he did lead the Bulldogs through their unsuccessful finals campaigns in 2008-10. Like West and like Grant, Johnson was unfortunately one of those star players that couldn’t get their hands on that elusive premiership, but his induction into the AFL’s Hall Of Fame in 2014 was a result of what Johnson has done and achieved throughout his time as a Bulldog and will forever be known as a true Son of the West.