Quinlan, Smorgon among inductees into Western Bulldogs' Hall of Fame

Quinlan, Smorgon among inductees into Western Bulldogs' Hall of Fame

The man nicknamed "Superboot" and a former club president were among those elevated into the Western Bulldogs' Hall of Fame at their 2018 season launch on Tuesday night.

On a night when the Dogs began to hone their focus on the new season before their club faithful at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, they also paid tribute to their past greats.

Bernie Quinlan with Ted Whitten in 1970.

Bernie Quinlan with Ted Whitten in 1970.Credit:Fairfax Photographic

Bernie Quinlan, the champion full-forward who boasted one of the biggest kicks the game has seen, and former president David Smorgon joined Don Ross, Peter Box and Steve Wallis at being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Champion key-position utility Chris Grant, ruckman Norm Ware, a five-time best and fairest, and Allan Hopkins, retrospectively awarded the Brownlow Medal for the 1930 season, were given legend status, joining Charlie Sutton and Ted Whitten, who were honored at the establishment of the Hall of Fame in 2010, and John Schultz (2012) and Doug Hawkins (2014).


Quinlan, given the nickname Superboot because of his booming right foot, began his VFL-AFL career with the Bulldogs in 1969, having been recruited from Traralgon, part of the Bulldogs' recruiting zone. He was named the Dogs' most versatile player in his first two seasons, the most improved and leading goalkicker in 1971 and most consistent in 1973. He was a part of the 1970 night premiership side and played in the Dogs' only two day finals in the 1970s.

The Victorian representative finished third in the best and fairest three times but, at the end of the '77 campaign, and after 177 senior matches, crossed to Fitzroy, where his career blossomed further, including claiming the 1981 Brownlow Medal alongside former Bulldogs teammate Barry Round. Quinlan was inducted into the AFL's Hall of Fame in 1996.

Smorgon is the longest serving president in Footscray-Western Bulldogs history, having served in the role from 1997 until 2012. He oversaw the club's name change from Footscray to the Western Bulldogs and fought hard for greater equalisation measures at a time when the traditional power clubs had a major say in financial matters.

He is only the fourth official to enter the Hall of Fame, joining James Cuming, Roy Russell and current president Peter Gordon, who is enjoying his second stint in charge.

Wallis, recruited from Leongatha, was a ball-winning centreman who played a club record 113 straight games from his debut in 1983. The former captain would eventually play 261 matches before retiring in 1996. He is the father of emerging midfielder Mitch Wallis.

Ross, known more as a midfielder, played 156 matches between 1952 and 1958, and claimed the 1956 best and fairest - the year Box won the Brownlow Medal. He was also part of the 1954 premiership.

Box, from Cheltenham, is the only Bulldog to enjoy a premiership, Brownlow Medal and best and fairest. A serious motor-cycle incident in 1952 meant he did not play a senior match but he rebounded to play a key role in the '54 flag. He claimed the Brownlow in 1956 by six votes and was regular state representative before leaving the club after the '57 campaign in what was a short but memorable stint.

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