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Game #144 – Round 22, 1996 vs Essendon at MCG (30/8/1996)
Our best, kicking 2.0 from 19k, 5hb in 3-point loss to the Bombers, collecting two Brownlow votes.
The Bulldogs' second-half revival owed much to the move of Grant from half-back to half-forward. Turtle gave the Dogs the lead with two minutes to play when he took a handball from Jason Watts and ran in to an open goal. But it wasn't to be, with Mark Mercuri coolly slotting a set shot at the death.
BULLDOGS YEAR
1996 was a dire year for the Footscray Bulldogs. The team finished 15th on the ladder with 5 wins, 16 losses and a draw, sitting only above the lowly Fitzroy in their final season before merging.
How bad was it? The threat of merger hung over the club the whole season. Alan Joyce was sacked as coach halfway through the season after a horror run of losses. The club’s youngest player, Shaun Baxter, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. New recruit Alan Jakovich (taken with pick 9 in the draft) failed to fire. Even the “baby elephant walk” during the players’ revue was lacklustre.
Enough to make one spew up.
Fortunately, the whole season was captured in the much-loved documentary “Year of the Dogs”. While the Doggies had little to celebrate in 1996, the doco did go on to win the coveted “Best Editing in a Non-Feature Film” at the AFI awards. The Bombers game is featured heavily around the 1:06:00 mark. You can maybe watch it on whatever this is:
vimeo.com
GRANT’S YEAR
1996 saw Chris Grant at the peak of his powers. Moved to CHB, he showed his versatility by dominating the air and keeping the big names in check. Footscray had a wretched year but Grant had a brilliant season playing on the game’s best forwards, showcasing his marking ability and athleticism.
Turtle was inexplicably overlooked for an All-Australian spot in favour of the ageing Paul Roos (who spent the year playing loose man in defence). He won the Bulldogs B&F (tied with Jose Romero) and fell just one vote short of winning the Brownlow medal. Many have blamed Steve Kretiuk’s errant kick against Essendon which ended up with Mark Mercuri, who put the Bombers in front, as costing Grant the medal.
Turtle's form brought new club Port Power knocking with a big-money offer, only to be trumped by a little kid with 20c. Now forgotten, the Swans and Tigers were also chasing hard.
Our best, kicking 2.0 from 19k, 5hb in 3-point loss to the Bombers, collecting two Brownlow votes.
The Bulldogs' second-half revival owed much to the move of Grant from half-back to half-forward. Turtle gave the Dogs the lead with two minutes to play when he took a handball from Jason Watts and ran in to an open goal. But it wasn't to be, with Mark Mercuri coolly slotting a set shot at the death.
BULLDOGS YEAR
1996 was a dire year for the Footscray Bulldogs. The team finished 15th on the ladder with 5 wins, 16 losses and a draw, sitting only above the lowly Fitzroy in their final season before merging.
How bad was it? The threat of merger hung over the club the whole season. Alan Joyce was sacked as coach halfway through the season after a horror run of losses. The club’s youngest player, Shaun Baxter, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. New recruit Alan Jakovich (taken with pick 9 in the draft) failed to fire. Even the “baby elephant walk” during the players’ revue was lacklustre.
Enough to make one spew up.
Fortunately, the whole season was captured in the much-loved documentary “Year of the Dogs”. While the Doggies had little to celebrate in 1996, the doco did go on to win the coveted “Best Editing in a Non-Feature Film” at the AFI awards. The Bombers game is featured heavily around the 1:06:00 mark. You can maybe watch it on whatever this is:
Watch YEAR OF THE DOGS Online | Vimeo On Demand
The people of Footscray are battlers and so is their football team. The 'mighty' Bulldogs haven't won a premiership since 1954. The club is close…
vimeo.com
GRANT’S YEAR
1996 saw Chris Grant at the peak of his powers. Moved to CHB, he showed his versatility by dominating the air and keeping the big names in check. Footscray had a wretched year but Grant had a brilliant season playing on the game’s best forwards, showcasing his marking ability and athleticism.
Turtle was inexplicably overlooked for an All-Australian spot in favour of the ageing Paul Roos (who spent the year playing loose man in defence). He won the Bulldogs B&F (tied with Jose Romero) and fell just one vote short of winning the Brownlow medal. Many have blamed Steve Kretiuk’s errant kick against Essendon which ended up with Mark Mercuri, who put the Bombers in front, as costing Grant the medal.
Turtle's form brought new club Port Power knocking with a big-money offer, only to be trumped by a little kid with 20c. Now forgotten, the Swans and Tigers were also chasing hard.
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