A number of Bulldogs icons were celebrated at the Club’s 2023 Hall of Fame gala event on Saturday night at Centrepiece.
Five former players were inducted into the Hall of Fame, three were elevated to Legend status and two moments were acknowledged on the night with over 500 people in attendance.
Western Bulldogs President Kylie Watson-Wheeler had the privilege of opening the formalities.
“At a Hall of Fame event, it doesn’t matter where we are on the ladder or who we play next week. It’s an occasion for Bulldogs people to celebrate Bulldogs people,” Watson-Wheeler said in her address.
“We have 140 years of incredible history to cherish and be proud of.
“We go all the way back to 1883 – the year Footscray was first entered into the Victoria Junior Football Association. It was the year we issued our first membership ticket, took our first team photo, and handed out our first Club Champion award.
“So many momentous milestones have filled our timeline since, which have shaped the identity of the red, white and blue.”
Watson-Wheeler recalled her own memories as a childhood Bulldogs’ supporter.
“In my youth, I was able to witness what footy was like at the famous Western Oval – our home for all these years,” she said.
“I watched in awe, as my heroes played their hearts out to make sure whoever travelled to the west, to take on the mighty Bulldogs, was in for a tough afternoon.
“There was Doug Hawkins, Tony Liberatore, Steve Wallis, Brian Royal and Scott West – just to name a few champions of the Club and all now Bulldogs’ Hall of Famers.
“We’re lucky to have some of them in the room tonight to celebrate and reminisce.”
Watson-Wheeler also thanked the selection committee for their efforts in determining the Hall of Fame inductees, who should be bestowed Legend status and which moments to include.
For more details on the Hall of Fame eligibility criteria, please click here.
