The Western Bulldogs will mark their 100-year anniversary in the VFL/AFL with a special showdown against Collingwood at the MCG in round two of the 2025 competition.
While the Footscray Football Club was established in 1877, it wasn’t until 1925 that the team joined the Victorian Football League, having already claimed nine premierships in the Victorian Football Association.
Footscray Football Club officially became the Western Bulldogs in 1996. This change was part of a rebranding effort to broaden the club’s appeal beyond the suburb of Footscray and to represent the wider western suburbs of Melbourne. The rebranding aimed to strengthen the club’s identity and build a larger fan base across Victoria’s western region.
In celebration of this milestone, the Bulldogs unveiled a commemorative 2025 logo at last month’s Charles Sutton Medal event.
Western Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains told AFL.com.au he’s hoping the 100 year anniversary will give the club a membership boost.
“It will be a spectacular occasion that we also hope encourages Bulldogs fans to sign up to become a member to ensure they can attend,” he said.
“After another record-breaking membership year in 2024, we’re aiming to hit 70,000 members in 2025, which would be an appropriately historic achievement.”
