President: 1997-2012
Board Member: 1981-83, 1997-2012
David Smorgon is the longest serving president in Footscray-Western Bulldogs VFL/AFL history.
Smorgon was at the helm of the Club during a record sixteen year period from 1997 to 2012. After being on the club board during a brief stint in the early 1980s, Smorgon and his Bulldog Task Force team swept to power in late 1996.
As the front man for the new group, Smorgon assumed the presidency from Peter Gordon. By the start of his first season, Smorgon’s administration oversaw the rebranding of the Club which involved a change in the playing name from Footscray to Western Bulldogs, a new jumper design and logo and a new home ground at Optus Oval before facilitating and securing the Bulldogs home games at Docklands Stadium from the 2000 season.
Smorgon marketed the club to the wider region of the west in a bid to gain greater corporate and fan support in financially challenging times and the Bulldogs cemented its reputation as the ‘community club’ under his chairmanship. David Smorgon was a champion of the underdog, often taking up the fight over the equalization policies of the AFL and was willing to push the Bulldogs’ cause at all times.
The redevelopment and revamp of the Whitten Oval in 2010 was a key plank in his administration’s plan to secure the club’s future, and leaves a lasting legacy of his presidential reign.
A passionate speaker, Smorgon provided leadership, stability, business acumen and displayed a positive and friendly manner to all who came in contact with him. Although his time at the Club was not marked by premiership success, the performances of the team were strong and the Bulldogs featured in five preliminary final appearances.
David Smorgon is just the fourth official inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining James Cuming (Pioneer), Roy Russell and Peter Gordon.
Class of '18 | View The Biographies of the latest crop Footscray-Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame inductees.
Hall of Fame
Don Ross
Peter Box
Bernie Quinlan
Steve Wallis
David Smorgon
Legends
Chris Grant
Norm Ware
Allan Hopkins
