Our unique association with the Western Bulldogs Football Club began in the 1980s. It has grown to include all four teams (AFL, AFLW, VFL and VFLW), and our innovative shared campus at VU Whitten Oval.

As the partnership continues to grow, so do the opportunities for our students and researchers. Each year, the Western Bulldogs host around 100 student placements through the Club and the Community Foundation. Our joint-funded sports-science team supervises students undertaking research in sport science, data analytics, strength and conditioning, and psychology.

Due to the Block Model, VU has also become the preferred place for Bulldogs players to study. The learning model enables them to train, play and complete their studies without missing too many subjects during the season. Currently there are 21 Bulldogs players (across all teams) enrolled at VU.

VU & Western Bulldogs: partners of the west - Transcript

Top 10 partnership facts

#1

VU Polytechnic massage students treat Bulldogs players.
#2

70 Western Bulldog elite athletes have attended VU.
#3

>50 Bulldogs staff are VU alumni.
#4

The entire Bulldogs' all-female sport-science team is from VU.
#5

100 VU students work with the Bulldogs every year.
#6

VU–Bulldog researchers have gone on to the NBA, AFL & Tennis Aus
#7

VU is the only sponsor that supports all 4 Bulldogs teams.
#8

Whitten Oval hosts VU massage, sport & research students
#9

The WB Community Foundation hosts VU psychology, sport & business placements
#10

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge is a VU adjunct professor

Bulldogs in the news

Ellyse Gamble on the footy oval

Graduation goals

16 March 2022

Three elite athletes on the verge of graduating from Victoria University share their thoughts and advice to other students.

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A year in review, VU & the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation

7 February 2022

A year in review, Victoria University and the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation partnership.

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crowd including young girls in footy uniforms cheering
News

AFL women’s joins VU in landmark study to improve mental health & wellbeing of women athletes

4 November 2021

Researchers from VU are working with AFLW on a study to assess and track the mental health and wellbeing of Australian women athletes in semi-professional.

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Education

Workplace & clinical learning for VU students

The Bulldogs accept sport science and exercise physiology cadets exclusively from VU. Our College of Sport and Exercise Science offers up to three Western Bulldogs student cadetships annually.

Each year, VU students have the opportunity to complete workplace learning with the Bulldogs in areas including:

  • administration
  • biomechanics
  • business
  • community development
  • event management
  • exercise physiology
  • exercise rehabilitation
  • hospitality
  • marketing
  • psychology
  • remedial massage
  • tourism.

The University also has seventy students actively involved in the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation, a grass-roots initiative that provides those living in the western suburbs with the tools and support they need in order to succeed.

In addition, VU massage therapy and myotherapy students gain hands-on experience treating Bulldogs’ players and members of the public at our Victoria University Whitten Oval Massage Clinic.

Team-players from the start

If students are interested in gaining hands-on experience while studying, VU is the leader in this space. Through wide networks and partnerships, students can access work-place leaning opportunities that offer the qualities employers are looking for.

Catherine Dell'Aquila — Community Health Pathways Coordinator, Western Bulldogs Community Foundation
Work with the Western Bulldogs
Zaine Cordy in Bulldogs uniform with a football

Zaine Cordy

"My studies have actually helped me with my playing. It’s given me another focus. I feel like I have better work–life balance, which helps both my playing and my uni results."

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Ellyse Gamble

"I know lots of people would be fearful that they can’t ‘do it all’. But the Block Model allows you to manage your different priorities."

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Female AFL players, mid-game

Julia Nash

“This experience was pivotal in cementing my passion for the sporting events industry. It taught me more than any unit could teach me through theory and I came out of it feeling more confident."

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Professional development for Bulldogs' players & staff

Many current and former Bulldogs' players and staff are studying at Victoria University or are VU Alumni.

Bulldogs players are encouraged to prepare for a career after football, including continuing their education. Our Elite Athlete program helps players who study at VU to balance study with training and competition demands, by offering flexible study options and career development support.

Our joint Professional Development Support Program helps Western Bulldogs’ staff continue their professional development through further study. Through this program, VU makes a contribution to the fees of a small number of staff selected for the program each year.

Joint community programs

VU and the Bulldogs have a shared commitment to the development of the western region through community-building programs. Some of our current community programs include:

  • Bulldogs Friendly Schools (BFS) program
    VU pre-service teachers help to facilitate the BFS ‘Footy in Schools’ program in western Melbourne primary schools. Students gain leadership and teamwork skills that can be applied to all aspects of their lives. Our pre-service teachers gain essential communication, leadership and coaching experience.
  • Sons of the West Men’s Health Program
    VU collaborates with the Western Bulldogs’ Sons of the West Men’s Health Program. The Program is designed to improve the health of men aged 18 years and over in the west of Melbourne and is the first program of its kind in Australia.
  • Daughters of the West Women’s Health Program
    VU is collaborating on the newly developed program is designed to improve the lives for all women aged 18 and over who are living, working and recreating in Victoria’s West.
  • Ready Settle Go
    The Ready SETTLE Go program offers a range of community focused health education, leadership, youth and employability programs in the light of meaningful partnerships and referral pathways with organisations and services in the west. VU’s community development students will be supporting this program in 2018 and beyond.
How Carlie is becoming a leader in sport

VU’s hands-on approach and industry placements give students an appreciation of why the theories we learnt are important, and how they’re applied to real-world scenarios.

Carlie Bauer — Exercise Science (Human Movement)/Psychological Studies, Clinical Exercise Science & Rehabilitation
Carlie's story

Research

VU’s sports science researchers work side-by-side with the Bulldogs' coaching, medical and performance teams in a structured research program.

Collaborative research topics have included:

  • football performance
  • active living
  • community development
  • sport management.

Joint projects give our researchers the opportunity to work with an elite sports team and contribute to real-world advances in the sports industry. They also offer the Bulldogs access to sport science expertise to help them improve their on-field performance and to develop their skills and fitness in our world-class sports facilities.

Future plans include a number of evaluation and research projects for the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation evaluating program impact and opportunities for further improvements.

Shooting for gold

I've always loved sport, so I knew I wanted to study in the field, and VU was the best place for me to do that.

Alice Sweeting — Bachelor of Exercise Science/Sport and Recreation Management (Honours), Doctor of Philosophy
Alice's story

Contact us

Contact our sponsorship team for more information on our Western Bulldogs partnership.

Phone: +61 3 9919 1014
Email: [email protected].

Visit the Western Bulldogs website for more information about the club.