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AFL Top 100: Western Bulldogs nicknames 24 to 1

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Roar Guru
6th January, 2022
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While the Western Bulldogs list was much shorter than Melbourne’s (due in part to 28 years less VFL/AFL history) it had a number of nicknames that deserved to be on the expanded list of 24.

24. “Rocky”. Alan Stoneham (1972). Stoneham made his debut at 16 years of age and still remains in the Bulldogs Top 100 game players.

23. “Bull”. Stan A. Penberthy was an ex Subiaco player who was a big solid follower who played the game hard and used his weight to advantage.

22. “Hose”. Jose Michael Romero (1988) is believed to be the first Chilean to play league football. Also played 89 games for North Melbourne.

21. “Red Bull”. Lionel Ryan (1954) was a plucky redhead who at least avoided the “Bluey” nickname!

20. “Charlie”. P.E. O’Leary (1933) also played for Fitzroy where he was the 500th player to do so.

19. “Kanga”. William Scanlan (1943) also played over 50 games for the Demons. He was a brilliant mark.

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18. “Tiddly”. Edward Thomas Sherman (1925) was recruited from Yarraville but after his first season did not play for the Bulldogs again until 1931.

17. “Bubba”. Rohan Smith (1992), the quintessential “local” born in Yarraville and played football for Kingsville. Played exactly 300 games for the Bulldogs, his last being in a losing final. Still ranks in the Top 10 game players and Top 20 goal scorers, and was a crowd favourite.

16. “Bubsy”. In a similar vein to #17, but Graham Thompson started at Footscray in 1956.

15. “Pug”. Walter G Warden (1928). From VFA club Brunswick.

14. “Rowdy”. Mick Malthouse suggested that “Rowdy” might be an appropriate name for the quiet rookie Scott Wynd who started his career in 1988.

13. “Wiggy”. Frank Kelly (1941) was born in England and played at Footscray in 1941 and 1944 – before and after war service.

12. “Nappy”. Lionel Ollington (1953) was a famous promoter of the game of two up.

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11. “Toey”. An interesting nickname bestowed on Les Murray when he joined the Bulldog in 1951 from Maldon.

10. “Ginger”. A versatile footballer who could play in attack or defence as well as having a run on the ball, Edward Roy Rodwell (1932) commenced his senior football career with Oakleigh in the VFA.

In 1931-2 he played 26 games and scored 35 goals for the Purple and Golds, including playing in the grand final defeat of Northcote in the former season.

Half way through the 1932 season he was snapped up by Footscray for whom went on to play 51 VFL games and boot 27 goals over three and a half seasons.

9. “Chidda”. Arthur Stevens (1927) was a vigorous ruckman whose son Harvey captained the Bulldogs and whose great grandsons Daniel andamp; Michael Talia also played league football.

8. “Pye”. George Henry Lewis came from Avenel in 1935.

7. “E.J”. Ted Whitten Sr (1951) vied with Ron Barassi for the title of Mr Football.

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6. “Cactus’. Jack Coolahan (1938) played for Melbourne before joining the Bulldogs. Ex Mortlake.

5. “Abdul”. Albert Barker played at Footscray in 1929.

4. “Dolly”. Frank Aked Sr. Joined Footscray as a tall, raw boned ruckman from Preston in 1925.A legendary figure around the club who served the Bulldogs in many ways.

3. “Choco”. Brian Royal (1983) received his nickname from the biscuit of the same name.

2. “Wee Georgie”. Cheeky rover George L. Bisset (1963) was a huge favourite with the Bulldog’s fans until he moved to Collingwood under the old 10 year rule.

1. “Sockeye”. What else could Ian Salmon (1970) be called?

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