BULLDOGS legend Charlie Sutton has died.
The 1954 premiership captain/coach and AFL Hall of Fame inductee died Tuesday afternoon at the Western Hospital, aged 88.
Sutton was one of the most admired and respected players of the game, known for his never-ending Bulldog spirit.
Bulldogs President David Smorgon said the club was deeply saddened by his passing.
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“To me and thousands of Bulldogs fans, Charlie Sutton is ‘The Bulldog’ — typifying the Bulldog Spirit,” he said.
“One of our great Club Legends, he will be forever remembered for the massive contribution he has made to the Bulldogs over the past 70 years – Charlie had red, white and blue in his heart.”
Sutton is best known for leading Footscray’s only Premiership in 1954.
His accolades included Coach of the Bulldogs’ Team of the Century and inaugural Bulldogs Hall of Fame inductee and Legend.
One of the most feared players of his era, he went on to become club president from 1978 to 1981.
Despite being very frail he attended the Western Bulldogs 2012 Hall of Fame ceremony less than two weeks ago.
On his induction to the inaugural Footscray – Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame in 2010, Sutton said there was more to football than just football.
“You’ve got to have plenty of guts and plenty of determination…underneath your shirt you have a heart and without heart, you don’t win”.
An emotion-charged Sutton spoke of his love for the club he captain-coached to its only premiership in 1954 when Footscray defeated Melbourne by 51points.
“It was always a great thrill to do anything for the Footscray jumper and to be inducted as a legend is a great honour.”
Sutton was asked what memory from the 1954 grand final would stay with him forever, he said: “When [Ron] Barassi [then with the Demons] ran into my elbow on the boundary.”
Sutton is survived by his wife – Eileen and children Charles, Dorothy, Pam and Gary.
