Return of the 1954 Jumper

[The Coon Dog]

Thanks for posting this one. I have a photograph of my grandafther wearing this jumper in number 11. He played for the Bullies from 1935 to 1937. It's too busy for television and wouldn't be suitable for use today imho.

That would be Jack Bridgfoot, from Benalla?

 

[scraybone]

I definitely support an urgent change, but not neccessarily a reversion. The '54 jumper is just one of the many other traditional versions I'd consider, but how about something fresh: a red upper and blue lower with a seperating white band?

The "yawning cat/robo dog" thing must be scrapped immediately, regardless.

 

[RedWhite&Blue]

Definaitely bring back the old jumper - I would say from speaking to all my friends and family most of whome do not barrack for the dogs that about 99% would prefer the old style jumper. Having said that I actually haven't heard of anyone liking the current jumper over the old one so it's more like 100%.
This one is really a no-brainer for the club. Just change it.
Change the name back to Footscray as well - give the club back it's identity - at the moment it sounds like an NRL team... Western Bulldogs pffffff...
There is no sense of tradition at all in a name like Western Bulldogs.

The clubs realise the tradition value in merchandise with all the 80's and older inspired gear being sold like hotcakes in the merch shop.

 

[PSP18]

I definitely support an urgent change, but not neccessarily a reversion. The '54 jumper is just one of the many other traditional versions I'd consider, but how about something fresh: a red upper and blue lower with a seperating white band?

That's already been tried (2002)

I don't like it. It strikes me as being too "Melbourne".

 

[Mutt]

That would be Jack Bridgfoot, from Benalla?

That would be correct TCD!

 

[scraybone]

PSP, I was aware of that previous jumper, but I was actually picturing it sans the bulldog icon and with a thicker white band. I understand your criticism of it though - it is a bit "Melbourne".

 

[JorgePosada]

I know Chris Grant looks good in anything red, white & blue, but this looks 'special'.

How sexy is that.

 

[Syrah]

I love Grant's jumper, but can we wait for a year or so to bring it in - until my three kids have outgrown their current jumpers.

 

[Harry Crumb]

Is the change in jumper on the club's radar or it's just a Bigfooty topic?

 

[chef]

Is the change in jumper on the club's radar or it's just a Bigfooty topic?

Just BigFooty.

 

[Fitzwah]

I'd say it's somewhere on the clubs radar, especially after that news article.

Plus as far as i've been told, they have been quizzed by the media on it also

 

[Fitzwah]

Any goss on the progress on the proposal???

 

[The_Flying_Egg]

We, as members and the lifeblood of the football club, would like to see a more traditional Guernsey adopted in the near future. A Guernsey reflective of our 1954 strip is the aim. We feel that the stylised Bulldog on the front of the current Guernsey is outdated and obsolete.

We ask for the club to consider the wishes of the members and think about a Guernsey change for the FFC/WBFC.

Cede Nullis

It sounds like this letter claims to be speaking on behalf of all the members. I don't remember being asked.

 

[lil_griff94]

I voted to keep it as is. Some people have only grown up with the one we have now. The people who were alive and supporting the bulldogs back when it was the old one have seen both, yet the younger fans are only familiar with the new one.

I like the one we have now anyway. I think it looks good. I hope it stays the same.
It would just be taking a backward step IMO.

I have been a member since 2000.......... grew up with the one jumper (Being 16) and i want change as do alot of other people my age

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

Because there is no need. The one we have now is fine.

Same here - although the pic of Chris Grant almost swayed me!

Also hope you guys revert back to being Footscray

NEVER!!!!!!!

From an opposition supporters POV I personally think it would be a great initiative for the dogs to revert back to the traditional playing strip. Also reckon changing you trading name from the Western Bulldogs back to Footscray would be a fantastic idea too

I know a few of our supporters (say they) feel the same but what's with other clubs' fans wanting us to go back to the Footscray name? I don't know that sponsors would go for it, for a start. I hope it never happens.

 

[chef]

Same here - although the pic of Chris Grant almost swayed me! .

This ones much better.

 

[The Coon Dog]

It's too late for a change in 2011 you would think.

I reckon the club should be looking towards a 2012 timeframe for a change.

That would allow sufficient time for all the arrangements that need to be made with the jumper manufacturer, so that at the conclusion of the 2011 season, they can roll them out.

 

[OldSchool]

It's too late for a change in 2011 you would think.

I reckon the club should be looking towards a 2012 timeframe for a change.

That would allow sufficient time for all the arrangements that need to be made with the jumper manufacturer, so that at the conclusion of the 2011 season, they can roll them out.

That was my point. If people are serious about a change then there needs to be a bit of work put into it. 2011 isn't going to fly and rushing things won't work.
2012 is the best target.

It's all in the way this is pitched to the club. At the moment there is more emotional points that will just take this off track.

This part gets it off to a good start

There appears to be growing support for the club to revert to the 1954 style playing strip. This poll seeks your views on whether we should change the playing strip.

This paragraph gets to the emotional part of the whole Footscray vs Western Bulldogs naming issue and will just take the proposal off track

Proposal- Footscray Football Club (Trading as the Western Bulldogs Football Club) jumper change.

This proposal has been put forward by the members and supporters of the Footscray Football Club/Western Bulldogs to have the jumper changed.

There are some good points in here but the ongoing Footscray/Western Bulldogs references just aren't required.
I'm also not convinced that there needs to be a lot of examples.
The first paragraph is quite good.

We, as members and the lifeblood of the football club, would like to see a more traditional Guernsey adopted in the near future. A Guernsey reflective of our 1954 strip is the aim. We feel that the stylised Bulldog on the front of the current Guernsey is outdated and obsolete.

A more simple, classic, and traditional look has been successful for other teams. Port Adelaide’s new simple Guernsey design has been popular with its membership as well as supporters around the league. SANFL club Woodville West Torrens has also reverted to a simpler, traditional Guernsey with great results. Fellow Victorian clubs such as Geelong, Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon, St Kilda and North Melbourne all wear a Guernsey that has been synonymous with their club brand for a large number of years. This is what we would like to see for the Bulldogs, a Guernsey that recognises the club’s long history in the game.

On a larger scale, association football clubs such as France’s Lyon and England’s Manchester United have reverted to a more traditional kit design which has worked effectively for the clubs. These two clubs are major players in their respective countries and have achieved much success with the marketing of a simple and traditional kit.

It would mean a lot to the members of our club, whether they know it as Footscray or the Western Bulldogs, to see the adoption of a traditional Guernsey. Imagine the great sentimentality of our next premiership captain raise the cup wear the same Guernsey as Charlie Sutton and his teammates wore for the club’s first flag.

We ask for the club to consider the wishes of the members and think about a Guernsey change for the FFC/WBFC.

Cede Nullis

Simplicity is the key. The fans are asking the club to consider a change and believe the more traditional look is far more dignified
That picture with Chris Grant wearing the more traditional design is compelling and I would be just trying to offer that example against the current look.

A lot of supporters won't agree but I think the jumper change proposal would be a good thing for the club.

We had the best jumper for years but now we need to update it again.

 

[Gus]

This paragraph gets to the emotional part of the whole Footscray vs Western Bulldogs naming issue and will just take the proposal off track


There are some good points in here but the ongoing Footscray/Western Bulldogs references just aren't required.

That wasn't me bringing that aspect of discussion into it, that was me trying to write it in official language and not being sure whether to use the Footscray name, that being the club's name.

 

[OldSchool]

That wasn't me bringing that aspect of discussion into it, that was me trying to write it in official language and not being sure whether to use the Footscray name, that being the club's name.

It actually sounded like the words from someone else but never the less I'm pointing out if there is a strong desire to change the jumper then anything that has the potential to take it off track needs to be cleaned up.

The basic plot of the proposal should be:
The current jumper is outdated.
The Mark Stevens article was the catalyst.
A return to the more traditional deign of one red and one white stripe is a vastly improved look. The Chris Grant picture is the perfect example
The supporters would embrace it and if marketed correctly along the lines of 'Putting the bite back into the Dogs' it could be a windfall for merchandise sales.

The things I would try to avoid are:
Mentioning 1954.
Mentioning the whole Footscray trading as the Western Bulldogs.
Mentioning a lot of other clubs jumpers. One example at best.

The current design is outdated and the supporters think the option that has been provided is the best for the club.

 

[FishCreekBandit]

It actually sounded like the words from someone else but never the less I'm pointing out if there is a strong desire to change the jumper then anything that has the potential to take it off track needs to be cleaned up.

The basic plot of the proposal should be:
The current jumper is outdated.
The Mark Stevens article was the catalyst.
A return to the more traditional deign of one red and one white stripe is a vastly improved look. The Chris Grant picture is the perfect example
The supporters would embrace it and if marketed correctly along the lines of 'Putting the bite back into the Dogs' it could be a windfall for merchandise sales.

The things I would try to avoid are:
Mentioning 1954.
Mentioning the whole Footscray trading as the Western Bulldogs.
Mentioning a lot of other clubs jumpers. One example at best.

The current design is outdated and the supporters think the option that has been provided is the best for the club.

That would be the words you would expect me to use??

And i agree you have a point there we are trying to get a board to change the jumper, the same board that supports the name change.

We should be classing it as the pre 1972? (was it 72?) Jumper but i dont agree with you in the fact that we should not bring up the past players thing. If one of the key reasons we want the change is because of the tradition of the club then passion does come into play.

The thing we need is to work on the marketable side of things and also trying to find out the sales boost the new 1883 range has brought to the club

 

[OldSchool]

That would be the words you would expect me to use??

Not everything revolves around you. Remember egos and agendas just get in the way.

And i agree you have a point there we are trying to get a board to change the jumper, the same board that supports the name change.

If the two issues get blurred then there is no chance. Jumpers change frequently, club names do not. The focus should be on what can be achieved.

We should be classing it as the pre 1972? (was it 72?) Jumper but i dont agree with you in the fact that we should not bring up the past players thing. If one of the key reasons we want the change is because of the tradition of the club then passion does come into play.

Keep it simple rather than trying to put a date on it. Traditional is the right term and the Chris Grant picture the right look.
Mentioning past players does not help things.

The thing we need is to work on the marketable side of things and also trying to find out the sales boost the new 1883 range has brought to the club

All that the marketing team needs to know is that its look that the supporters want. They are smart people and will work out how to best market it.

 

[FishCreekBandit]

Not everything revolves around you. Remember egos and agendas just get in the way.



If the two issues get blurred then there is no chance. Jumpers change frequently, club names do not. The focus should be on what can be achieved.



Keep it simple rather than trying to put a date on it. Traditional is the right term and the Chris Grant picture the right look.
Mentioning past players does not help things.



All that the marketing team needs to know is that its look that the supporters want. They are smart people and will work out how to best market it.

Ive agreed with that from the start bringing the name issue into it wont help our cause.

I think that the marketing team are looking more into what helps get new supporters then keep supporters that are already there, if we can show the gain from having a new jumper out in terms of sales etc it can help. I know the other side of the agreement will be that kids prefer the jumper with the bulldog on and we need a decent counter agreement why use people who will still spend the $ on the club anyway feel its the best overall jumper for us.

If we were to return to the jumper we would put out a marketing ploy, showing footage of the past greats etc would be used so i feel that you can include the likes of the 54 side or the EJ speech. Tradition and the classic look is 2 of the things that imo we should be using as a standng point.

 

[OldSchool]

If we were to return to the jumper we would put out a marketing ploy, showing footage of the past greats etc would be used so i feel that you can include the likes of the 54 side or the EJ speech. Tradition and the classic look is 2 of the things that imo we should be using as a standng point.

Where you are missing the point is that the club already knows a lot about 54, the cup, Whitten, the Whitten speech and the past players.
What does mentioning them have to do with asking the club to consider a change to a more traditional look for the club jumper? Its just rhetoric.

Do what you like but drawing all those points into the proposal doesn't help it.

 

[incubi]

It sounds like this letter claims to be speaking on behalf of all the members. I don't remember being asked.

This.
I must admit to accidently voting the wrong way, but I dont see the point in going back to the old design. Its nice to wear sometimes but we should be looking forward. People say our current jumper is outdated but want to go back to a much older one, im sure just some slight changes to the current will modernise it enough.
Since the change of jumper we have made the finals 8 times, lets make a new history and not focus on the past.