Bulldogs vs Hawthorn: A Rivalry Forged in Blood, Sweat, and Tears

In the annals of Australian Rules Football, few rivalries burn brighter than that between the Western Bulldogs and the Hawthorn Football Club. It's a rivalry borne out of decades of fierce battles on the field, off-field controversies, and the unwavering passion of their supporters.

The seeds of this rivalry were sown in the 1980s when both clubs were struggling to find their footing in the VFL competition. The Bulldogs, known as Footscray at the time, had been languishing at the bottom of the ladder for years, while Hawthorn had just emerged from a period of dominance in the 1970s.

But everything changed in 1987 when the Bulldogs upset the Hawks in the preliminary final. It was a stunning victory that sent the Footscray faithful into raptures and sent shockwaves through the AFL world. The Hawks, accustomed to success, were furious, and the rivalry took on a new edge.

The "Bloodbath Grand Final" of 1989

The feud reached its boiling point in the 1989 VFL Grand Final. The game was a brutal affair, with both teams intent on not just winning but destroying each other. The Hawks led at halftime, but the Bulldogs fought back in the second half to take a narrow lead.

With just minutes remaining, the game reached its climax. Hawthorn's Dermott Brereton, a giant of a man, tackled Bulldog Jim Edmondson with such force that Edmonson's leg snapped in two. The crowd gasped in horror, and the game was stopped for over half an hour as Edmondson was taken to the hospital.

The incident cast a dark shadow over the game, which Hawthorn ultimately won by a single point. But it also cemented the rivalry between the two clubs as the most physical and intense in the AFL.

Modern-Day Rivalry

The rivalry between the Bulldogs and Hawthorn continues to this day, albeit with less brutality on the field. In the 2016 AFL Grand Final, the Bulldogs pulled off another upset by defeating Hawthorn to win their first premiership in 62 years. It was a moment of sweet revenge for the Bulldogs, and it only further inflamed the rivalry between the two clubs.

Today, the Bulldogs vs Hawthorn match-up is always one of the most anticipated games of the season. The passion of the supporters and the intensity of the rivalry make it a must-watch event for AFL fans around the country.

Call to Action

If you're an AFL fan, do yourself a favor and catch a Bulldogs vs Hawthorn game live. It's an experience you won't soon forget. And who knows, you might even witness another chapter in this epic rivalry.