Former captain-coach Arthur Olliver has been endorsed as a Legend of the red, white and blue, as announced at the 2023 Footscray-Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame.
The idol of Ted Whitten Snr, Olliver was a Club icon who represented the Bulldogs across 16 seasons from 1935-50, including seven years as captain-coach.
A skilled tap ruck, his versatility and team-first mentality meant he was often played in key positions at both ends of the ground with no fuss.
Olliver finished his career with a then-Club record 272 games and 354 goals, and claimed the leading goalkicker award on three occasions.
He won two Bulldogs’ Best and Fairests (1941, 1944) and became Footscray’s most successful coach on retirement, leading the team to three finals series during the 1940s.
Olliver was inducted into the Bulldogs Hall of Fame in 2010 posthumously, and now joins the likes of Charlie Sutton, Ted Whitten Snr and John Schultz as official Legends of the red, white and blue.
Established in 2010, the Footscray-Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame honours those whose involvement and contribution to the Club has been significant, memorable and worthy of celebration.
Arthur Olliver
Played: 1935-50 (16 seasons)
Games: 272 (128 wins, 4 draws, 140 losses - Success ratio 47.79%)
Goals: 354
Captain/Coach: (7) 1943-46 (6th, 4th, 5th, 4th) and 1948-50 (4th, 9th, 10th)
Best & Fairest: (2) 1941 (joint), 1944 r/u: unknown 3rd: unknown
Leading Club Goalkicker: (3) 1936 (37 goals), 1937 (39 goals), 1949 (28 goals)
Brownlow career votes: 58* (*Brownlow suspended 4 years: 1942-45)
Finals: 5 (1938, 42, 44, 46, 48)
Victorian Rep Games: 2* (*State games suspended 4 years: 1940, 42-44)
All-Australian: n/a
Inducted into the Australian Hall of Fame: 2003
Foots/WB Team of Century: Interchange
Foots/WB Hall of Fame: 2010
