Should The Western Bulldogs Be Re-Branded Footscray?

[joeyavalanche]

People know that 'Western' represents Western Suburbs,
its not like it doesnt make people think of Footscray anyway.

But its a footy club!
Thats the heart and soul of the club.

I really dislike the West Coast part of our name,
but we started with that, there is nothing to go back to.

Theres so much more pride with Footscray

 

[Dimenhydrinate]

It amazes me how people like to dump on Footscray, yet the value of the area is expected to rise by 40% in the coming five years, the most of any area in Melbourne.

Of course it is. When you start with nothing, it's very easy to go up.

 

[Leedawsom]

I have an idea but you wouldn't like it. Neither name sends me into the realms of exstacy but I think with tradition it should still be Footscray as account of tradition.

 

[Tulip]

**** me some people will clutch at anything

despite Arsenal FC's origins (of which im very much aware) the club has played every league home game since 1913 within the borough of Islington. when they outgrew Highbury, the club remained in the borough of Islington and opted to build a new stadium merely 500 metres down the road. why do you think this is so?

Because Woolwich wanted to be like Tottenham?

 

[Tulip]

It amazes me how people like to dump on Footscray, yet the value of the area is expected to rise by 40% in the coming five years, the most of any area in Melbourne. Close to the city, great atmosphere, fantastic mulitcultural suburb, with a mix of food and culture, a fantastic park, lovely old historic buildings. Yes, there are drug addicts, but not as bad as Preston (Collingwood's heartland) and Dandenong and remember what St Kilda is known for? ..hello - don't see you putting down the Saints, Pies or Demons.

Take a drive out and have a look at the gentrification of the suburb - it will soon be the place to live, whereas some of the northern suburbs will look, well just a bit tired.

But to get back on topic, the heart of the Bulldogs is not just in Footscray, the kids have grown up and moved out to Hoppers Crossing, Melton, Werribee and yes even Geelong has a strong support base for the dogs.
What I especially like is going to games and seeing Vietnamese and Sudanese supporters decked out in their doggy gear, these new migrants identify with the Western Bulldogs, and we can say we are the Western Bulldogs, because there is no other AFL club in Melbourne's West.

We represent the whole city, so, as much as there is bad there is more good...

 

[mcgarnacle]

Because Woolwich wanted to be like Tottenham?

dream on, WW.

But Spurs are another great example of the point tho. As you'd know, plans are in the works to build a 58k capacity stadium adjacent to the current ground at White Hart Lane. Once again, keeping the home games within its community in the borough of Haringey, and of course in Tottenham, rather than shipping it elsewhere.

Chelsea are up shitcreek tho as they'll struggle to gain planning authority to up the capacity of their existing stadium, Stamford Bridge. Furthermore, due to problems they had with the ownership of the ground, the name of 'Chelsea FC' is tied to the venue, i.e., they cant take the name with them to another site.

anyway, i recognise that economic necessity means it has to be done totally differently in the AFL. a shame though. i'll just keep looking out for the white shorts.

 

[mcgarnacle]

We represent the whole city, so, as much as there is bad there is more good...

'elitist' Melbourne more like it. i doubt many people in preston, st albans, etc consider the dees representative of them.

 

[Orangewhip]

Will always be Footscray to me. I feel bad not calling the Doggies by their heart suburb. Not the same connotations in the modern age for those who think 'Footscray' is about migrants and industry either. Its a fantastic part of the city and embraces old Melbourne and the diversity of multiculturalism.

 

[immortalmike]

It's full of Vietnamese ... and drug addicts

Yeah, because Collingwood is such a beautiful area .

Its funny that some have problems with the Dogs being associated with Footscray because of the areas perceived 'issues' yet Collingwood, St Kilda and Richmond don't seem to carry around those social stigmas despite the fact that those areas are almost as bad as Footscray.

Ahh well it's too far gone now, I can live with Western still sounds kind of silly to me though. I've never really heard any other team have to chant their nickname (because chanting 'Western' sounds incredibly dumb)...sigh.

 

[BBBaz]

I can't imagine anyone at the Western Bulldogs would give a crap what a supporter from any other club might think about the club name. How about trying a bit of 'mind your own business' rather than trying to tell us what our club should be called. You only really get a say if you are a paid up member.

 

[BBBaz]

It's full of Vietnamese ... and drug addicts

Says the guy from North Fitzroy.

 

[Perry Pie]

I can't imagine anyone at the Western Bulldogs would give a crap what a supporter from any other club might think about the club name. How about trying a bit of 'mind your own business' rather than trying to tell us what our club should be called.......

Exactly right!

 

[D Mitchell]

...Ahh well it's too far gone now, I can live with Western still sounds kind of silly to me though. I've never really heard any other team have to chant their nickname (because chanting 'Western' sounds incredibly dumb)...sigh.

"Silly" is a polite way of expressing it. It's embarrassing, the only club that has had a "brand" name foisted on us, without consultation. As long as Smorgo's in charge, the club will be stuck with the stupid moniker - he's not going to admit he was wrong. But nothing lasts forever.

I'm gratified by the responses of non Footscray supporters, though. Almost to a man, they are against the western name. A couple of posts noted that it isn't their business - it's up to Footscray supporters - well, it wasn't up to the supporters. Smorgon and his board rode roughshod over the supporters. You can understand why a good number of supporters say they approve the name - after all, if they didn't say they liked it, we'd have to do something about it - which we should have done in 1996.

 

[The_Flying_Egg]

On the bright side ...

That place is awesome, I used to go to Vic Uni Footscray campus and those donuts got me through the day

 

[SweetLeftFoot]

**** me some people will clutch at anything

despite Arsenal FC's origins (of which im very much aware) the club has played every league home game since 1913 within the borough of Islington. when they outgrew Highbury, the club remained in the borough of Islington and opted to build a new stadium merely 500 metres down the road. why do you think this is so?

Because they got a sweet deal and made a zillion flogging flats in Highbury?

Fact is Arsenal made the move from south of the river to north, its like Essendon suddenly moving to Frankston.

 

[Johnson#26]

Footscray all the way. Must go back to it.

 

[green machine]

There's a difference. Changing to the kangaroos and flogging games saw us lose members. Going back to North Melbourne has seen ours rise 40 per cent.

Yet the Dogs, despite years of relative success seem to have topped out in their membership.

Don't they have about the same membership as North?

 

[incubi]

Don't they have about the same membership as North?

North Melbourne had approx. 120 more game day memberships than is this year.
For total memebrship (pet etc.) i believe they had a little over 32,000 and we had high 31,000.
However, we had 8500 social club members (an upgrade costing about $160) which i doubt they got anywhere near.

 

[Oakland Raider]

With the year the Bulldogs had, the membership should be way more than the Kangaroos.

 

[incubi]

With the year the Bulldogs had, the membership should be way more than the Kangaroos.

The North membership is still inflated after the Gold Coast scare. they went 24,000, 34,000, 28,000 and i wouldnt be suprised if its 26,000 next year.

 

[D Mitchell]

With the year the Bulldogs had, the membership should be way more than the Kangaroos.

Not necessarily. Membership may be maximised in successful years but to grow membership significantly needs sustained ultimate success a la Hawthorn or significant corporate support where companies get hundreds of memberships for staff as part of their package a la Carlton and Hawthorn.

An earlier post pointed out that Footscray's conversion of support to membership is probably the best in the competition.

It shows the absurdity of the notion that the brand name is justified by increased membership - still the lowest or near lowest in the competition. Membership has nothing to do with names.

 

[Sttew]

Western Bulldogs is a much better brand name. Up to the Doggies really though.

But with a Western Sydney side coming in - granted its name may not include 'Western' - there will be confusion. Back to Footscray Bulldogs

 

[pazza]

On the bright side ...

Best donuts in Melbourne folks.

 

[BLPC08]

Thought i'd throw it out there, how about the West Melbourne Bulldogs. Has a nice sound........ only problem is we would have three team names starting with West.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Trouble is there is already a suburb there called West Melbourne ( I think ), which is closer to North Melbourne than it is to Footscray.