It’s deja blue, red and white for Bulldogs

THE romantic rematch of the 1954 grand final will be played on the same date and in the same uniforms after the AFL signed off on Melbourne and Western Bulldogs both pulling on their traditional strips.

Charlie Sutton’s Footscray donned the club’s royal blue jumper with one red and white hoop on September 25, 1954 as the Bulldogs smashed the Demons to secure their maiden VFL premiership.

On Monday the AFL confirmed the Dogs would again be allowed to wear that signature design when the clubs meet on September 25 this year, 67 years to the day since Jack Collins bagged seven goals against Norm Smith and Ron Barassi’s Demons.

The Bulldogs will wear white shorts, which also completed their uniform in that famous game from the 50s.

The Demons, as the higher-ranked club, were guaranteed permission to wear their home jumper and dark blue shorts.

The Bulldogs have worn their white clash strip in some away games against the Demons this century, but were desperately hoping that fashion statement would not be enforced for what will be the club’s fourth grand final appearance.

They had precedent on their side after being allowed to dress in their homewear in away games against Melbourne in more recent seasons, including at the MCG in Round 19 this year.

That night was no clash whatsoever on television and common sense has prevailed.

But there was one embarrassing clash that marred a match between these teams.

In 2010, reigning No. 1 pick

Tom Scully used the Friday night stage to announce himself with 39 disposals and a goal in only his seventh game.

However, the Demons wore partly pink jumpers for the AFL’S Field of Women event and, bizarrely, the umpires also wore pink tops.

Clint Bartram admitted he mistakenly handballed to an umpire thinking it was a teammate.

To cap off the amateur error, the Dogs were in their whites.

The 1954 encounter preceded what would become a mighty Melbourne, which won five of the following six flags. But the Dees ran on to the MCG five minutes after the scheduled start time against Footscray, which was part of coach Norm Smith’s mind games.

The bulk of a surprisingly small crowd of 80,897 were barracking for the successstarved Bulldogs because they wanted to witness history.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge suspects that same factor will see Perth predominantly turn red and blue as the Demons look to hoist the cup for the first time since 1964.