It’s been known for years – now it’s official – Mr Football is the greatest to ever pull on the red, white and blue.
EJ Whitten has officially been crowned as the greatest Bulldog of all at the club’s 100 year gala dinner at the oval named in his honour.
Footscray born and bred, the 321 game champion has long been the heart of the western suburbs.
Whitten was a member of the Dogs first premiership back in 1954, won five club best and fairest awards, captained and coached his club, and will also forever be remembered for his prowess in state of origin football, and his undying love of the Big V.
He was made an inaugural legend of the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
For us at Geelong Broadcasters, he remains to this day the soul of our football coverage, with our Cats coverage continuing to be broadcast from the EJ Whitten Memorial Broadcasting Box.
Head of K rock Football Tom King paid tribute to EJ this morning
“Even though EJ has been gone 30 years, his presence still looms large on K rock Football,” he said.
“He’s not only the greatest Bulldog of all-time, but he’s our greatest, too.”
Whitten edged out current Dog’s skipper Marcus Bontempelli to be named the greatest in the Dogs top 25, with Chris Grant, Gary Dempsey and Doug Hawkins rounding out the top five.
Ted Whitten Junior said it was an honour to receive the award for his dad, just days shy of what would have been his 92nd birthday.
“I get asked a lot how he would feel about this or that, I’ve got no idea,” he said to the alughter of the room.
“But I’m tipping he’d be pretty stoked.
“To be here at this ground, named in his honour, I think he’d be pretty proud himself. I know all our family are.
“He’s been a wonderful ambassador for the western suburbs and the football club. If anyone had a crack at him about the Bulldogs, look out.
“He would protect them with his life. If you had of cut his hand he would have bled red, white and blue.”
It’s yet another honour for EJ, who also has Whitten Oval and the EJ Whitten Bridge named in his honour.
K rock’s Brad Johnson was also included on the unranked 6-25 list.
