It’s the sort of script usually reserved for Hollywood movies . . . a true underdog rises from the ranks and goes on to win a premiership.
While the second part may not have happened yet, for a batch of the Western Region Football League’s most talented players, the dream may be about to become a reality.
This time last year the details of a stand-alone Western Bulldogs VFL team, to be known as Footscray, were just starting to emerge.
While Albion’s Todd Finco and Spotswood’s Michael Fogarty could have been pencilled in for brilliant seasons with their respective local sides, they were two of four WRFL players to put their hands up for the challenge and venture down to Whitten Oval for pre-season training.
They were joined by Spotswood’s Christian Elliott and Port Melbourne’s Jase Perkins.
For the Bulldogs, touted early on as a possible struggler in the competition, the decision to take a chance on a start-up VFL side could be about to yield the ultimate reward.
After a slow start, the Dogs have won eight of their last nine matches and now sit in outright second spot on the VFL ladder.
Signing with Footscray was Fogarty’s second foray into the VFL after previously playing with Williamstown, and he couldn’t be happier with his decision.
“I had a bit to do with ‘Mapes’ [Footscray senior coach Chris Maple] when he was at Williamstown,” Fogarty said.
“He gave me a call during the pre-season and said maybe I should go down and give it a shot. I was a bit iffy at first with the stand-alone club wondering if there would be opportunities, but I think it’s the best thing I’ve done all year.”
Despite the obvious jump in class from WRFL to the VFL, both Finco and Fogarty have more than held their own.
Fogarty has become a near-regular for Footscray, having lined up for the club on eight occasions.
Finco, playing as a crumbing forward, has played six games and booted seven goals.
Perkins has played six games and Elliott four.
Unlike in their local leagues, where the quartet are matched against players who have either stepped down or been delisted from the AFL, they are now coming up against players on top of their games at VFL level.
Finco said he had enjoyed the challenge.
“Lining up on some of those [AFL-listed] guys is daunting, but I do look forward to it,” he said. “It’s a good challenge.
“The game is a lot quicker. The tactics and everything . . . it’s a lot different from local football, that’s for sure.”
While they may have found the challenge tough, Maple has been impressed with the way his players have gone about it.
“Early on it was probably a little daunting for them, but now they feel part of the club,” he said.
“I remember Michael Fogarty going to [Carlton’s] Brock McLean [against Northern Blues] for example. He just took on the challenge and did a fantastic job.
“I don’t think the boys worry too much about who we’re playing. They just play how we want them to play and whoever comes to them comes to them.”
While WRFL players are helping Footscray’s charge towards finals, the benefits of the partnership go much deeper into the local football community.
With access to outstanding facilities and high-calibre coaches, Maple said he expected the club’s local players to take the skills and knowledge they learn back to their home clubs.
“A lot of the programs are about giving them knowledge and developing them off-field as well as on-field,” Maple said.
After a bye last week, the Bulldogs will take on Bendigo, Werribee, Casey and Richmond in the run towards September.
With only Werribee of those teams in the VFL top eight, Footscray looks certain to maintain a top-four spot and could even get a home final as it has the competition’s best percentage.
Fogarty said the prospect of finals was exciting for everyone at the club.
“It’s unbelievable,” he said. “I thought I’d be with Spotswood in the WRFL, but it would be great to play for Footscray in the finals.” While the primary objective of the Footscray VFL team is to develop the players so they’re ready for the AFL, Maple said winning was a nice bonus for everyone.
“Our number one priority is the development of our AFL-listed players, and then our VFL-listed players and winning is then the cream on top,” he said.
“If we get that we’re happy as well. The main priority is the development of those two groups and the third part of that is the development of our staff.
“We are a development team.
“Winning is a great add-on, but it’s not why we exist.”
