LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Drought Breakers: The 1980 Premiers
According to bulldogs.com.au, after narrowly missing the title in 1979, 'The Entertainers' aimed to overcome a 38-year Premiership drought in 1980. Despite concerns over a lack of size in the forwards, Head Coach Ted Glossop emphasized the team's creativity, mobility, and skill.
Compounding their challenges, the Bulldogs had to forgo Belmore Sports Ground for the first three months of the year due to grandstand renovations. This situation posed more than mere psychological hurdles, as players were forced to change at the nearby Belmore Bowling Club. Meanwhile, Glossop and his selectors met weekly in a caravan at the Belmore Sports Ground on Tuesday nights to choose the team.
Canterbury's early season performance in 1980 wasn't indicative of a championship contender, as they suffered three significant losses early on. The team faced a staggering 35-9 defeat against Cronulla, followed by losses to Easts (20-5) and Wests (24-8). Despite their creative play, they only managed to score over 30 points in a match once, doing so in Round 1 against Newtown (38-17).
Nevertheless, the Bulldogs persevered and ultimately reached the top of the table, sharing the position with Easts, but losing the Minor Premiership based on points differential. Their creativity and flair emerged powerfully during one of the most memorable finals campaigns in their history.