Ted Whitten

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Considered by many to be the greatest Australian-rules football player of all time, Edward James 'Ted' Whitten (born July 27, 1933, died August 17, 1995) lived his entire life for football: his club--Footscray (Western Bulldogs), his state team---Victoria and any fan or anybody in earshot of this larger-than-life character.

With superb all round skills, he was one of few football players to have the ability to play any position on the field. Not surprisingly, he was regarded by his contemporary team mates and opponents in the 1950's and 1960's as the greatest player of his era; some bestowed on him the title "Mr. Football". He was the first inductee of the Australian Football Hall of Fame (given Legend status) in 1996. He grew up in the western suburbs of Melbourne-- Braybrook and Footscray. As a youth he played for Braybrook on Saturdays and Collingwood Amateurs on Sundays; he was urged by the Collingwood Amateurs coach, Charlie Utting ( a former Collingwood VFL star) to try out for the Collingwood VFL team but was told by them to come back in a few years after building up body strength. Within 12 months he was playing for Footscray, the team he had always supported.

Whitten was passionate about State of Origin Australian Rules, representing and captaining the "Big V" on many occasions. He was also chairman of selectors for the state team after retiring from playing football.

Whitten lost his battle with prostate cancer in August 1995. Such was his popularity he was given a state funeral, had a bridge named for him and a statue erected at the Bulldogs former home ground, Whitten (Western) Oval in west Footscray. During a State of Origin game only weeks before his death, Whitten, suffering from blindness due to the cancer, was driven around a lap of the MCG, with Mariah Carey's "Hero" being played. It is rated as one of the most emotional sporting moments in history.

After Ted Whitten died, his son, Ted Whitten jnr began the EJ Whitten Legends Game in the memory of his father. The game is a charity match to raise money for prostate cancer research.

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