A formidable ruck with strong marking abilities, Gary Dempsey’s story is one of resilience.

Recruited in 1967, the 196cm youngster had cemented a regular spot in the team by 1969 before he got caught in a bushfire at his Lara farm.

Dempsey’s burns were so severe, he spent seven weeks in hospital and was told by doctors his football career was over.

A refusal to accept that news saw him return to the Bulldogs after months of rehab and recovery, and carve a career that would see him go down as one of the Club’s greats.

He claimed his first Club Champion medal in 1970 and finished runner-up in the Brownlow Medal that same year – but was only just getting started.

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Dempsey ended up with six Charles Sutton Medals – second only to Scott West with seven – and still holds the record for the most medals won consecutively (1973-1977). 

He earned his maiden All Australian blazer in 1972, and became the Bulldogs’ fifth Brownlow Medallist in 1975.

His impact and consistency was highlighted by his record 13 finishes in the Brownlow Top 10 – with nine of these occasions happening during his career as a Bulldog.

Gary Dempsey and Chris Grant during a Western Bulldogs training session at Whitten Oval in 2001. (Image: AFL Photos)

Dempsey served as captain across two periods (1971-72 and 1977-1978), and was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996 post-retirement.

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GARY DEMPSEY PROFILE

Inducted: 2010
Games: 207 (1967–78)
Goals: 105
Best and fairest: 1970, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977
Captain: 1971–72, 1977–78
Brownlow Medal: 1975
All-Australian selection: 1972
Other honours: Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee (1996), Footscray-Western Bulldogs Team of the Century (ruck)