The Western Bulldogs will formally celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Club's debut in the Victorian Football League with a blockbuster Round 2 Friday night home game against Collingwood at the MCG.
With the 2025 campaign marking a century since the Footscray Football Club joined the then-VFL, the red, white and blue army will flock to the home of football for the landmark game on March 21.
CEO Ameet Bains said he was thrilled that the Club would host a game at the MCG for the first time since 2009, with the prospect of surpassing the Bulldogs’ home and away attendance record, which stands at 68,447.
“As an entire Club, we are very excited to celebrate our 100-year anniversary next year with our fans, members, staff and players,” Bains said.
“As part of that, being on footy's biggest stage in a premier timeslot is something we all relish and it gives us a wonderful opportunity to surpass our largest home-and-away crowd.”
Bulldog fans turned out impressively this year, highlighted by more than 50,000 attending a home game against Essendon at Marvel Stadium (the venue’s biggest AFL crowd in a decade) and a home Elimination Final that drew a record 97,828 to the MCG.
“While we absolutely love playing our Melbourne home games at Marvel and remain committed to doing so, this one-off MCG home game provides a unique opportunity to acknowledge a significant milestone for our Club,” Bains said.
“It will be a spectacular occasion that we also hope encourages Bulldogs fans to sign up to become a member to ensure they can attend.
“After another record-breaking membership year in 2024, we’re aiming to hit 70,000 members in 2025, which would be an appropriately historic achievement.”
Footscray joined the VFL alongside Hawthorn and North Melbourne, playing its first game on 2 May 1925 against Fitzroy at Brunswick St Oval.
Details of Thursday night games up until Round 15 have also been confirmed, with the Bulldogs featuring in three – Round 11 v Geelong (away), Round 13 v Hawthorn (home) and Round 14 v St Kilda (away).
All Thursday night games will be broadcast on Channel 7 and Fox / Kayo.
The full 2025 AFL fixture will be released tomorrow (Thursday 14 November).
2025 AFL Fixture
Round 2
Western Bulldogs v Collingwood
Friday 21 March, 7.40pm AEDT
MCG
Round 11
Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs
Thursday 22 May, 7.30pm AEST
GMHBA Stadium
Round 13
Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn
Thursday 5 June, 7.30pm
Marvel Stadium
Round 14
St Kilda v Western Bulldogs
Thursday 12 June, 7.30pm
Marvel Stadium
Existing access members will have the Round 2 home game included as part of the usual package entitlements at no additional cost. More information will be sent to members in the coming weeks. Fans are encouraged to sign up as an access member to ensure access to the match. Sign up below.
