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, games of football 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 as the contact for Denver via the old USAFA website. Initially, the list of people was short, and time passed for nearly a year before anyone met or organized a kick. Emails were exchanged discussing the club and what we should name it, along with several aborted weekend kicks. As other teams across the country were sprouting up they were able to secure a sister-club relationship with an AFL club back in Oz. 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 was 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 faced off: ‘Renouf’s Rejects’ versus the ‘Presidents team’. (Score and write up in archives) Now that many of the Americans had a taste of the game, each weekend saw a few new guys arrive, some stayed, some never returned. Saturdays at City Park became routine for a core group of 15-20 guys from September to December of 1998. Various Pubs became the post footy locales, with some pledging sponsorship, only to have those promises broken, but at least the club was making efforts to gain some sponsorships. 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.