CLUB HISTORY
The genesis of the Denver Bulldog Australian Football Club began in 1997 when the arrival of the internet allowed a small, cult-like following of Aussie Rules Football enthusiasts, Aussie ex-pats, and innocent bystanders to come together in cyberspace and share their passion for the greatest game on earth. In late 1996, football games were starting to be loosely organized in isolated parts of the country, and by early ’97 the United States Australian Football Association (the USAFA) was established.
A growing list of people began to accumulate nationwide, and links from internet searches provided people in Denver, Colorado to begin communications about starting a club. While several people played a major role in the founding of the Bulldogs, Craig Jones is considered the person who got it all going. Jones negotiated a deal with the Western Bulldogs who promised a set of used jumpers. (Little did we know they would be from the 80’s, but we were thrilled.)
After many emails and phone calls, the inaugural kick was set for the Sunday of the Labor Day weekend of 1998, at Denver’s City Park. Two people, Craig Jones, and Jim Baldwin were the only attendees….Matt Dainauski actually drove around the park that day and tried to find the informal kick, but wasn’t able to find it. The following week, a Saturday, Jones, Baldwin, and Dainauski were joined by more founding members of the club, Rusty Waugh, Paul Renouf, John Hevko, Charley Ellis, Greg Merritt, and Mick Daly. Week after week, more people showed up; skills were the focus, as many had never played a game of footy before.
Of course, after each session, there was the obligatory beverages and camaraderie associated with footy, and one Saturday the initial club officers were voted in over a few beers. Craig Jones was elected President, Jonas Stoltz VP, Paul Renouf Secretary, and Mick Daly Treasurer. The club was slowly becoming organized. Finally, in early October 1998, the first Aussie Football match was played in Denver. On a shortened oval, two teams of 12 face off: ‘Renouf’s Rejects’ versus the ‘Presidents team’. Now that many of the Americans had a taste of the game, each weekend saw a few new guys arrive, some stayed, and some never returned.
Saturdays at City Park became routine for a core group of 15-20 guys from September to December of 1998. Off the field, Jonas Stoltz initiated the setup of the Bulldogs club website, Craig Jones had T-shirts made up, and the Bulldogs were gaining an identity.
FOUNDER'S AWARD
The Denver Bulldogs have recognized four founding players as Lifetime Members with the honorary Founder's Award.
Additionally, Craig Jones is considered the person who got it all going as the contact for Denver.
First Game
1999
2000
Bulldogs First National Championship
2002
2003
2004
2005
2007
The Denver Lady Bulldogs
are established
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2022
Men's Ressies win their First Championship
2024
The club’s first game was the Santa Cruz, California tournament in April, 1999. After a monumental road trip from Denver, the boys kitted up and played their first contests against Orange County and Santa Cruz (now Golden Gate). Coming away with their first win (against OC), the boys had a taste for the game and throughout 1999 and into 2000 didn’t miss a weekend of training. It was in this environment of sharp skills and peak fitness, coupled with a close-knit brotherhood that the ethos of the club was created – Hard Footy is Winning Footy.
The LA Nationals in 2000 was the creation of something special in the Denver squad. The boys played 6 games in one weekend and finished the tournament with its first National Championship, beating San Diego in the final.
The Bulldog Men continue to win
National Champtionships.
In 2007 four Denver ladies, Tammy Davies, Lara Porter, Anna Thexton and, Amie Kennedy, decided that footy wasn’t just for the guys. They started learning the basics during men’s training and could always be found having a kick until it was too dark to see the ball. They played alongside the Arizona Hawks to compete in the 2007 Nationals and they immediately had the bug. Strong recruitment meant that their first Nationals tournament as the Denver Lady Bulldogs was in 2008.
The Division 1 Men's Team win their 6th title, and their 7th in 2009.
The Denver Lady Bulldogs win 6 consecutive National Titles. They held the title longest Nationals wining streak in USAFL history until 2023.
The men win their 8th National Title in 2011.
The Denver Bulldogs have grown to one of the biggest clubs in the USAFL, bringing 4 full teams to Nationals in California. Through the years, The Bulldogs have come together in a #oneclub mentality, supporting each other across teams, both on, and off the field.
The Ressies win their 2nd title in Austin, TX.
AS THE YEARS HAVE GONE BY...
As successful as the Bulldogs have been on the field and involved within the club, they have been just as successful and involved in the USAFL. Over the years, at one time or another, a Bulldogs member has been sitting League President (3 separate terms), Regional VP, Head of Umpiring, Head of Juniors, Revolution Head and Assistant Coach, Nationals Director, in addition to having USAFL Hall of Fame and Lifetime Members.
We don’t just play a footy, we attend weddings, backyard BBQs, fundraisers, funerals, and, all the little events life has. We aren’t just a footy team; we are a footy family… and it was all started with four drunk blokes kicking a footy in a car park.
