In 1989 the Footscray Football Club had the stench of death to it. After a promising mid-80s period, finances had dried up, and energy was sapped. On-field results followed. Debt mounted. The club was technically insolvent.

The flashpoint came in 1988 amidst dwindling crowd and lack of government or council support its Western Oval home became a political split in the club.  Without a viable home how would they survive?

Things didn’t get better in 1989 and when the VFL did the hard sell on mergers and ground rationalisation that year Footscray was effectively on death row.

The new president in 1989 Nick Columb was left in an unenviable position as he made decisions that were the most important in the history of the club.

Dennis Galimberti was the GM of Footscray Football Club in 1989 working under Columb’s presidency – his role in the Fitzroy Bulldogs saga is pivotal and without his actions football history would be very different.

An heroic figure in the west, but also described as the ‘unguided missile’ by VFL House, Dennis Galimberti joins us to talk about the events that led to the merger of Fitzroy and Footscray Football clubs in October 1989.

The Greatest Season That Was Presents...The Fitzroy Bulldogs

 

Produced by Bad Producer Productions. 

In 1989 the Footscray Football Club had the stench of death to it. After a promising mid-80s period, finances had dried up, and energy was sapped. On-field results followed. Debt mounted. The club was technically insolvent.
The flashpoint came in 1988 amidst dwindling crowd and lack of government or council support its Western Oval home became a political split in the club. &nbsp;Without a viable home how would they survive?
Things didn&rsquo;t get better in 1989 and when the VFL did the hard sell on mergers and ground rationalisation that year Footscray was effectively on death row.
The new president in 1989 Nick Columb was left in an unenviable position as he made decisions that were the most important in the history of the club.
Dennis Galimberti was the GM of Footscray Football Club in 1989 working under Columb&rsquo;s presidency &ndash; his role in the Fitzroy Bulldogs saga is pivotal and without his actions football history would be very different.
An heroic figure in the west, but also described as the &lsquo;unguided missile&rsquo; by VFL House, Dennis Galimberti joins us to talk about the events that led to the merger of Fitzroy and Footscray Football clubs in October 1989.
The Greatest Season That Was Presents...The Fitzroy Bulldogs
&nbsp;
Produced by <a href="https://www.badproducerproductions.com">Bad Producer Productions</a>.&nbsp;

A new series from the team at The Greatest Season That Was Presents... US Revolution.

US Revolution features Mason, Shannon Gill and American broadcaster Ed Wyatt in an exploration of Australian Rules Football's US connections. The eight-part series will feature interviews with Paul Roos, Jason Holmes and former ESPN broadcaster Bob Ley. 

Follow The Greatest Season That Was on Twitter - @TGSTW_Presents.

The Greatest Season That Was is produced Jay Mueller and is part of the Bad Producer Podcast Network.

A new series from the team at <a href="https://twitter.com/TGSTW_Presents">The Greatest Season That Was Presents</a>... US Revolution.
US Revolution features Mason, <a href="https://twitter.com/ShannonGill13">Shannon Gill</a> and American broadcaster <a href="https://twitter.com/edwyatt">Ed Wyatt</a> in an exploration of Australian Rules Football's US connections. The eight-part series will feature interviews with Paul Roos, Jason Holmes and former ESPN broadcaster <a href="https://twitter.com/BobLeyESPN">Bob Ley</a>.&nbsp;
Follow The Greatest Season That Was on Twitter - <a href="https://www.twitter.com/TGSTW_Presents">@TGSTW_Presents</a>.
The Greatest Season That Was is produced <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jaybillmueller">Jay Mueller</a> and is part of the <a href="https://www.badproducerproductions.com">Bad Producer Podcast Network.</a>

An in-depth look at the greatest seasons in world sport

The Greatest Season That Was Presents...

The first season explored Australian Football's greatest season: 1993. Season two made the case that the 1999 Cricket World Cup is Cricket's greatest season. Season three told the story of a failed footy merger that saw one club eventually fade away and the other reach the highest level of success. Season four told the story of Australia A. 

This season reveals the ties between AFL and the USA. 

Presented by Mason Cox, Shannon Gill and Ed Wyatt. Produced by Bad Producer Productions

The first season explored Australian Football's greatest season: 1993. Season two made the case that the 1999 Cricket World Cup is Cricket's greatest season. Season three told the story of a failed footy merger that saw one club eventually fade away and the other reach the highest level of success. Season four told the story of Australia A.&nbsp;
This season reveals the ties between AFL and the USA.&nbsp;
Presented by Mason Cox, Shannon Gill and Ed Wyatt. Produced by <a href="https://www.badproducerproductions.com">Bad Producer Productions</a>

Dennis Galimberti discusses his role in the 1989 proposed merger between Footscray and Fitzroy.