It was with great sadness that the Western Bulldogs yesterday announced the passing of Bulldogs hero Charlie Sutton.
A much loved 'Son of the West,' below are a collection of tributes that have started to pour in via Twitter for the Legend of the Western Bulldogs Football Club. #RIPCharlie
Charlie Sutton (1924 - 2012)
One of the most feared players of his era, Charlie came to the club from Spotswood in 1942 and was almost certainly the last player signed from the club’s old Williamstown zone before it passed to South Melbourne.
Sutton served in the army, so missed playing during the war years from 1943 to 1945 but, when he returned, became one of the keys to the Dog’s rise up the ladder.
Appointed captain-coach to replace Arthur Olliver in 1951, Charlie oversaw a great period of success for the Club.
Footscray’s 1954 Premiership, the Bulldogs only Premiership, was Charlie Sutton’s crowning glory.
In 1956, Sutton retired after 173 games and was replaced as coach the next year. He returned to coach for a two year stint, in 1967-68, and served as President (1978-81).
He was named as back pocket and coach in the Footscray - Western Bulldogs Team of the Century and was an inaugural inductee into the Footscray - Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame and was inducted as one of the Club’s first Hall of Fame Legends alongside, EJ Whitten.
