Ted Whitten's 299th VFL match wasn't a happy affair.  Despite 'EJ' having a reasonable game himself, the Bulldogs went under at home to Essendon by 27 points. 

What made it harder for Ted was that it was Footscray's final game of the 1968 season, and he would have to wait more than six months for a chance at redemption in his 300th game. 

The summer of 1968-69 must have passed slowly for Ted but his big day finally arrived on this day in 1969, when the Bulldogs headed across town to take on Fitzroy at Princes Park.

An afternoon of celebration looked likely for 35-year-old captain-coach Whitten and his teammates when the Dogs got the jump on the Lions in the first term to lead by 27 points at quarter time. 

But Fitzroy put up a stronger showing in the second and third quarters, and at the last change of ends the Bulldogs had a slender lead of just 14 points. 

Undoubtedly inspired by one of EJ's famous evangelical oratories, Footscray turned it on in the final term, kicking eight goals to two to blow the Lions away by 56 points.

In his milestone game, Whitten was one of the stars, booting three goals. 

Best on ground was 'Wee' Georgie Bisset, who kicked six goals and had 25 touches, while Ricky Spargo kicked five majors and veterans John Jillard, Don McKenzie and Stuart Magee were key contributors. 

But it wasn't only Footscray's veterans who had an impact that day.  Five Bulldogs made their VFL debuts in the big win. 

Two Bruces — Davidson and Greenhill — were joined by Graeme Joslin, Richard Radziminski and a big bloke named Barry Round in making their first appearances.  They would go on to have varying degrees of success in footy. 

Davidson's senior career lasted just three games, Radziminski's 14, and Joslin's 24 matches. The other two players — Bruce Greenhill and Barry Round — provide a stark example of how the careers of two players making their debuts as teammates can diverge. 

For Greenhill, his four kicks, one mark and one behind weren't enough for him to retain his place in the side, and he was never given another opportunity.  He became one of the (now) more than 1100 V/AFL players whose first game was their last.

Round's total of 328 games is the equal-highest of any V/AFL player whose debut came in the same match as a one-game player.  It is matched only by Carlton's John Nicholls, whose first game in 1957 was against Hawthorn, which included debutants Len Carter and Barry Metcalfe.

While Nicholls, like Round, would go on to play 328 games, Carter and Metcalfe — like Greenhill — would never get a second chance. 

Bruce Greenhill, who sadly died of brain cancer in 2014, might have had some regrets about his career lasting only one match, but he would have held his head high knowing that he contributed to a win, and helped club legend Ted Whitten celebrate his 300th game in style.