Home Ground: Dennington Oval

Colours: Red and white

Emblem: Bulldogs

Senior WDFL Premierships: 1966, 1982, 1988 (3 total)

Senior WDFL Best and Fairest Player Awards: Neil Johnstone 1954; Lionel Lovett 1956; Noel Thornton 1969; Wayne Cox 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985; Murray Turner 1990; Jamie Squires 2001 (6 Winners/9 Wins)

Prior to commencing in the Warrnambool and District Football League in 1953 Dennington had competed in various leagues and associations since before the first world war, but details of its achievements have proved difficult to uncover. The club’s early years in the WDFL were undistinguished, and it did not manage to qualify for a senior grade grand final until 1966, when it overcame Old Collegians by 26 points, 12.15 (87) to 9.7 (61). Further grand final appearances followed in 1970, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1980 and 1981, but these all resulted in losses. Finally, in 1983, the Bulldogs managed to claim their second senior grade flag courtesy of a 19.14 (128) to 16.15 (111) grand final defeat of West End Allansford. The same two sides also contested the following years grand final, but the Bulldogs performed poorly, and went down by the embarrassing margin of 84 points.

The early 1980s were also noteworthy for Wayne Cox’s feat in becoming the first and still only player to win four successive league best and fairest awards.

The second half of the 1980s saw Dennington retaining its position as one of the competition’s heavyweights. The side reached the grand final in 1986, 1988 and 1989, but only the 1988 match was won. This proved to be the Bulldogs’ last senior grade premiership to date. The closest they have come to adding another flag was a losing grand final against Merrivale in 2006. The 2007 and 2008 seasons saw the side finishing seventh and fifth.

Dennington’s other grades have enjoyed a modicum of success. The reserves went top in 1983, and the under seventeens in 1984 and 1985. The under fourteens, which only commenced nine years ago, have yet to claim a flag.

Where now?

Back to Top

or

[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Allansford ] [ Deakin University ] [ Dennington ] [ East Warrnambool ] [ Kolora Noorat ] [ Merrivale ] [ Nirranda ]