The Denver Bulldogs are devoted to promoting the international sport of Australian Rules Football in Colorado, the United States, and abroad at all levels of competition.
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.
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.
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.
Craig Jones was elected president, Jonas Stoltz VP, Paul Renouf Secretary, and Mick Daly Treasurer.
Jones was in touch with AFL legend Paul Roos during this time and arranged for him to come to Denver, prior to the US v Canada international game.
Many of the original Bulldogs, both expat & Americans had the chance to be voted by Jones to play in the inaugural International match against Canada.
The Bulldogs defeated the Chicago Swans at the siren after Paul Renouf's free kick was awarded in front of goal.
Denver defeated the Nashville Kangaroos behind the Benny Harling/Tom Ellis/Charley Ellis midfield and the back line of Rusty Waugh, Charles Richards, and Jimbo Baldwin.
In the quarter-finals, Denver faced the Santa Cruz Kangaroos led by former AFL player John Ironmonger; the Bulldogs were defeated, finishing their inaugural USAFL season with 6 wins and 4 losses.
The Lady Bulldogs would win their 21st straight game and add another ring to their collective thumbs, taking their 5th consecutive title home.
[12] In June Denver seniors and reserve squad each beat Tulsa in Crested Butte, Colorado and held onto 4th position on the poll.
Denver coach Tom Ellis tried to rally his team with a fiery speech at halftime, and after five minutes of work they earned a goal and it looked like the comeback was on.
The ‘Doggies are always full of talent, from high flyers Casey Robertson and Phillip Camping, to ruckman Adam Wufsus, to defenders Peter Taylor and Andy Vanica, this is a good team from top to bottom.
New York would then fall to Denver with Casey Robertson kicking two amazing goals in the end to spark a 34–20 victory over the past National Champs.
To end the match the siren sounded and from ten meters out, all the Freeze had to do was kick it over the pack on the goal line for the win.
The Denver Lady Bulldogs would overcome the toughest fields in their competitions to hoist the trophies high as the best women's Australian Rules football team in the land.