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UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES-EASTERN SUBURBS (Paddington/East Sydney/Eastern Suburbs/University of NSW)
Affiliated: NSWAFA 1881-1895; NSWAFL 1903-26; NSWANFL 1927-73; NSWAFL 1974-80; SFL 1981-86; NSWAFL State League 1987-89; SFL 1990-1998; SAFL 1999-present Club Address: c/o Sports Association, Sam Cracknell Pavilion, University of New South Wales 2052, New South Wales Home Ground: Village Green Oval, University of New South Wales, Barker Street, Kensington Formed: Paddington unknown; East Sydney (later Eastern Suburbs) 1880; University of New South Wales 1962; Eastern Suburbs and UNSW merged in 1999 Colours: Red, white and blue Emblem: Bulldogs Premierships: SAFL and precursors - Paddington 1915-16-17, 1919-20, 1922, 1924 (7 total); East Sydney 1881-82-83, 1890-91-92-93-94-95, 1903, 1911, 1918 (12 total); Eastern Suburbs/East Sydney 1926-27, 1941, 1953-54-55-57-57-58-59, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1980-81-82-83-84 (18 total); University of NSW-Eastern Suburbs 2002-03 (2 total) SFA - University of NSW 1971-72, 1977, 1993-94 (5 total); University of NSW-Eastern Suburbs 2002 (1 total) Phelan Medallists: Jack Williamson 1933, 1935, 1937-8; Brian Tyler 1969; Rob Claridge 1979; Laurie Axford 1981; Chris O'Dwyer 1994; James McPherson 2002; S.Pech 2004; Troy Luff 2006 (8 Medallists/11 Medals) Snow Medallists: University of New South Wales - Paul Annett 1989; Stephen Byrns 1995-96; Mark Knight 1999 (3 Medallists/4 Medals) S(A)FL Top Goalkickers: Paddington - S.Milton (52) 1922, (46) 1924 & (62) 1925; G.Watson (42) 1923 (4 total) Eastern Suburbs/East Sydney - D.Collins (32) 1903; G.Knott (48) 1921; S.Milton (58) 1927 & (78) 1933; M.Edgeworth (72) 1940 & (35) 1942; S.Loxton (71) 1945; C.Wines (56) 1948 & (81) 1949; J.Hughes (89) 1953; J.Hamilton (87) 1968; P.Physick (63) 1977; P.Ruscuklic (136) 1979, (156) 1980 & (213) 1981; G.Spaulding (105) 1982; A.Mapleson (115) 1986; B.Abbott (71) 2007 & (89) 2008 (19 total) Highest Score: 47.21 (303) vs. Liverpool 4.3 (27) in 1982
Given their mutual success, the move to amalgamate seems a strange one, but no doubt the reasons precipitating the move seemed persuasive at the time. In any case, it is difficult to criticise a venture which proved so successful, as for more than half a century the merged organisation was by some measure the most consistently successful in Sydney football. The club was known as Eastern Suburbs until the end of the 1968 season, when it reverted to the name 'East Sydney'. It became known as Eastern Suburbs again in the 1990s.
Fortunes took a disappointing downswing in 2006 as the side missed the finals for the first time since 2001, slumping to 6th place with just 6 wins from 16 matches and the dire percentage of 64.75. There was marginal improvement in 2007 as the Bulldogs won precisely half of their matches although this was still only good enough to secure 6th position on the ladder. The 2008 season saw the Bulldogs qualify for the finals in pole position after claiming 15 wins from their 18 minor round matches. However, their finals form was woeful and they bowed out of premiership contention with straight sets losses to Pennant Hills and East Coast Eagles. A year later they got as far as the grand final only to succumb by 9 goals to East Coast. The Bulldogs were for a time the only to club to field teams in both the SAFL and the SFA, with the SFA side recording a premiership in 2002, and finishing runners-up to arch rivals Sydney University in 2003. Since 2005, however, the club's reserve team has competed in the SAFL reserve grade. Recent seasons have seen the seniors experiencing mixed fortunes exemplified by a losing grand final appearance in 2009 and a second from last finish a year later.
Where now? or
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