CHARLIE Sutton’s finest moment in football was winning the 1954 grand final.
As Footscray’s captain-coach, he led the club to its first and only premiership with a stirring victory over a powerful Melbourne side, which went on to claim five of the next six flags.
He died at the Western Hospital on June 5, aged 88, a true Bulldog, through and through.
After missing five matches in the lead-up to the decider, there were doubts about whether his injured knee would stand up, but it did, and so did he.
Melbourne coach Norm Smith later said that on that day Footscray would have beaten a combined Victorian Football League side.
In the aftermath of the Dogs’ triumph on October 2, 1954, The Mail (now Maribyrnong Weekly) painted a glowing picture of Sutton’s courage and leadership.
“It [the premiership victory] was a resounding triumph for Charlie Sutton as coach and captain,” it stated.
“He has worked hard and constantly on the players to mould them into a united fighting force. With a resourcefulness characteristic of his own determined play on the field, he has equipped himself with a style of addressing the players that would do credit to a person who has made oratory his forte.
“Sutton, in every way, has developed into a top-class coach. He is also a fine player, ideal as a leader because of his self-sacrificing way of going into the play.”
In a rousing pre-match address, Sutton told his players: “All right, boys, this is it – the day Footscray has been waiting for since entering the league. It’s up to us now. I feel sure we can come out on top and put Footscray on the map. Don’t give an inch. We will go out and play it hard.”
That night, at an after-match reception at Footscray Town Hall, the crowd showed their devotion, shouting: “We want Charlie”.
Sutton’s playing career spanned 173 games from 1942 and 1946-1956, including as captain-coach from 1951-1956. He was coach in 1957 and later returned to coach the side from 1967-68 and was the club’s president between 1978 and 1981.
A long-time Seaholme resident, he was named coach of the Bulldogs’ Team of the Century and inducted into the Australian Football League’s Hall of Fame.
After being named a Legend alongside the late Ted Whitten at the inaugural Bulldogs’ Hall of Fame night in 2010, Sutton said: “When I look at all those great players that went before me and the great players that are playing today, I think
I am very fortunate to be the chosen one.”
Bulldogs president David Smorgon last week said Sutton’s contribution would never be forgotten.
“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,” he said.
“Captain and coach of our premiership side in 1954 and club president 1978 to 1981 – Charlie had red, white and blue in his heart.”
Rest in peace, Charlie.
Sutton’s life will be remembered at a public memorial service in the Victory Room at Etihad Stadium from 1.30pm on Friday.
