AS A four-time premiership player and quadruple Club best and fairest whose place in the VFL/ AFL’s Team of the 20th Century is but part of his many, many distinguished football achievements, Bruce Doull has always been one to let the record speak for itself.

But Doull, a member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame and a Legend of the Carlton Hall, wanted to share a few words in honour of his premiership teammates Peter Bosustow and Robert Walls, whose courageous battles with serious illnesses recently ended with their untimely passings.

“Over the past few weeks Carlton has lost two greats of our game,” said Doull, whose 356 games through 18 seasons overlapped with the careers of both Bosustow and Walls, and whose connection with Walls actually pre-dated the Princes Park years.

Doull earned the Norm Smith Medal in the first leg of the back-to-back Grand Final victories of 1981/’82 in which Bosustow also featured – and he stood Richmond’s Royce Hart when Walls booted six from centre half-forward in a best afield performance on Grand Final day 1972.

“‘The Buzz’ (Bosustow) brought much excitement to the footy world. The Buzz loved Carlton and Carlton loved The Buzz. Such a brave and determined man,” Doull said.

Of Walls, Doull remembered the days when they were kids, both chasing the leather for their respective local teams in Melbourne’s north. 

“Robert and I were opponents in our junior days. He played for Coburg Amateurs and I played for Jacana. It was always a tough match. Then we both came to the Blues,” Doull said.

“Throughout the years, Robert was an opponent, a teammate and my coach. Carlton was lucky to have such a great player, coach and person. Such a brave man.

“It has been a privilege to know him.”