PG goes whack

[Twodogs]

Statement released by Peter Gordon on Ryan Griffen:


I have today read a statement issued by Ryan Griffen’s management. It requires clarification.

Ryan Griffen raised with me some concerns about our Senior Coach the day after our best and fairest. I then organised for him to immediately relay those concerns to our Chief Executive, Simon Garlick. We both took Ryan’s concerns very seriously as did Brendan McCartney when he was informed of them.

We arranged for Ryan to meet with Brendan and our Football Director, Chris Grant, and they discussed his concerns. Brendan acknowledged some faults and agreed to work on them. At the conclusion of the meeting, Chris asked Ryan if he was happy with the meeting and agreeable to working with Macca on an ongoing basis.

Ryan answered yes to both questions and added that while he was on leave he wanted to reflect upon whether he was best suited to captain the Club in the future.

Having returned to Australia on Tuesday night and without any further discussion with us after giving that agreement, Ryan informed us that he had changed his mind. We were also informed that he was seeking a trade to GWS – with whom we now understand he was in communication during this time.

We are extremely disappointed at his approach and have no intention of indulging it.

[chef]

Go PG.

I want to say Griffen can get stuffed, but I'm trying to be better than that.

[Ozza]

Its a good statement. I'm equally disappointed with how this has transpired - hurts even more from such a revered Western Bulldogs person (Griffen).

Unfortunately strong statements from PG don't win us football games.

[bulldogtragic]

Boyd or Cameron plus pick 19
Pick 4 and Tomlinson and upgrade second & third rounders
Or bust.

Ryan O'Keefe was virtually at Hawthorn many years ago. If a club endures them to want out, then they have to pay the price.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Good statement but there's no way the situation can be resolved now IMO.

In terms of getting the best possible deal we'll need to be ridiculously strong, but I don't see how Griffen can line up for us next year after his statement and the fact that he'll be out of contract and a FA next year.

Terrible day.

[ledge]

GWS doing the dirty obviously.. AFL needs to change rules , players under contract cannot be poached unless both clubs agree to talks.

[Greystache]

Good strong response from Peter.

It just goes to show what poor leadership with have amongst the senior players. Griffen's response was a weak one, walk away from confrontation rather than take it on. It's not a great surprise, he was made captain in lieu of a lack of better alternatives and he's now shown that he isn't the right person for the role. That fact he was a better option than many of the alternatives is a serious indictment on their leadership qualities, but it's been mentioned on a number of occasions how obvious our lack of leaders is on the field.

Our best players this season when it got tough were our youngest, let's hope it's a sign of things to come in the future.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

PG has also sent out an email detailing the above to members, highlighting the fact that he is a contracted and required player.

[KT31]

Boyd or Cameron plus pick 19
Pick 4 and Tomlinson and upgrade second & third rounders
Or bust.

Ryan O'Keefe was virtually at Hawthorn many years ago. If a club endures them to want out, then they have to pay the price.

Wasn't this prior to free agency, its a different ball game now.

[1eyedog]

Clearly it's Peter's spin. GWS need to know that we are starting a long way back in terms of getting what we want. PG knows that Leon has promised Griff he'll get him out and GWS will pay dearly for it.

[bulldogtragic]

Wasn't this prior to free agency, its a different ball game now.

Yes, Hawthorn said they'd take him virtually no matter what. Then Pelchan did what he does best and the deal was off despite O'Keefe walking out. They repaired the relationship and was good for Sydney.

If we finish 16th next year, Griff is likely pick 4 compo. Stare them down for a gun kid and pick.

[Remi Moses]

This is just another example of the game resembling WWE
This is like Hulk Hogan siding with Bobby " The Brain " Heenan back in the day, or for younger types joining the New World order.
Footy has gone mad, and is resembling the world game and American sports

[SonofScray]

A great, mature and strong response from our President. This is a terrible scenario, but I believe we have the resolve and nous to turn this into a good result and set a standard for a long time about how people in our organisation behave.

[azabob]

Clearly it's Peter's spin. GWS need to know that we are starting a long way back in terms of getting what we want. PG knows that Leon has promised Griff he'll get him out and GWS will pay dearly for it.

Exactly, step one of the negotiation process.

[LostDoggy]

I think the club stance is as it has to be. We are in a worse negotiating position (not by much) if we say, "ok he wants to go, lets talk how much", we'd get less compensation if we are resigned to losiong him. This is exactly how Collingwood are playing it with Beams! Required player, come to the party!

[jeemak]

Excellent response from Gordon.

This is another example of a naive player being poorly advised. Whoever suggested to him that he should deal with the Giants whilst his situation at the Bulldogs was not resolved has done him a massive disservice, particularly as he is the captain.

It seems to this point the club and the coach have been willing to admit they need to change, to me it's a little pathetic that players don't seem to be able to do so as well.

[AndrewP6]

Of course he's going to say it, but to reiterate the fact he's a contracted player??? If Griff is set on leaving, and we force him to stay, how does that help the club? We have arguably our best player not wanting to be there. The bigger issue is that at least 4 players don't want to be a part of the club. And the year isn't over.

[Pickenitup]

Cam Mooney said Griif has had a contract offer from GWS for over 6 months.

[The bulldog tragician]

Cam Mooney said Griif has had a contract offer from GWS for over 6 months.
Isn't that against the rules?

[GVGjr]

Terrific response by PG. Fully support him. Griffen was given his chance to air his grievances and was willing to work on the issues but then changed his mind. As a leader he needed to be better than that

[wimberga]

Terrific response by PG. Fully support him. Griffen was given his chance to air his grievances and was willing to work on the issues but then changed his mind. As a leader he needed to be better than that

Agree wholeheartedly - when this first broke I felt it was terrible for the image of the club (and still know that it is not great). However, as more has come to light, I am thinking that a lot of AFL fans image of Ryan Griffen has been shattered. The worst thing is, he was held in such high regard too which is whats so disappointing.

[Guido]

Isn't that against the rules?
If it is, I'd assume that we'd also be breaking those rules with offers to contracted blokes like Patton and Lonergan.

[lemmon]

Time the AFL stepped in and stopped the players having their cake and eating it too. Absolutely ridiculous that they have free agency yet for all intents and purposes contracts mean nothing anyway. If players have free agency rights while under contract it should be illegal for them to nominate destination clubs and they should have no say in or ability to reject where they are traded to. Imagine the bidding war Griff would create on the open market? The club should have the right to choose the best deal for itself and tell him to get stuffed.

[Jam Donuts]

Yes, Hawthorn said they'd take him virtually no matter what. Then Pelchan did what he does best and the deal was off despite O'Keefe walking out. They repaired the relationship and was good for Sydney.

If we finish 16th next year, Griff is likely pick 4 compo. Stare them down for a gun kid and pick.

I am staggered that Spud Junior Frawley is worth pick 3 and Griff is only 4, this is our chance to really put GWS to the sword, it could work out well for us as others have mentioned, but we need more than pick 4, a lot more.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Of course he's going to say it, but to reiterate the fact he's a contracted player??? If Griff is set on leaving, and we force him to stay, how does that help the club? We have arguably our best player not wanting to be there. The bigger issue is that at least 4 players don't want to be a part of the club. And the year isn't over.
No. The bigger issue is why and the information to date, from multiple sources seems to reflect more poorly on our senior playing group than on the administration. In fact perhaps for the first time in a long time we are trying to address the player first mentality at the club.

[Remi Moses]

If the Kristian Jacksch ( ? I give up)
Trade with Carlton goes through we could get 4 and 7.

[lemmon]

If the Kristian Jacksch ( ? I give up)
Trade with Carlton goes through we could get 4 and 7.

I'd rather 4 and Boyd to be honest

[Remi Moses]

I'd rather 4 and Boyd to be honest

Yep ,works for me

[KT31]

Yep ,works for me

Would be a decent result.

[jeemak]

No. The bigger issue is why and the information to date, from multiple sources seems to reflect more poorly on our senior playing group than on the administration. In fact perhaps for the first time in a long time we are trying to address the player first mentality at the club.

Very well put.

Grant Thomas during 2008-2010 talked about the selfishness that pervaded our football club's players during that time, perhaps his words (as much as I hated hearing them at the time) had some merit and the club is trying to eradicate its legacy.

[bulldogtragic]

I'd rather 4 and Boyd to be honest

If that happens my tears of sorrow will turn into tears of joy. I'm thinking that won't happen though.

[Flamethrower]

Real men stand up and work through their issues. Cowards run away and hide in Rooty Hill. This is why professional athletes should never be called heroes.

Take them to the cleaners....nothing less than 2 1st round picks and Will Hoskin-Elliott. Then trade one of the picks for Jake Carlisle. Trade for Melbourne's compensation pick and/or St Kilda's number 1 pick and draft 2 of Wright, McCartin and Petracca.

[G-Mo77]

Real men stand up and work through their issues. Cowards run away and hide in Rooty Hill. This is why professional athletes should never be called heroes.

Take them to the cleaners....nothing less than 2 1st round picks and Will Hoskin-Elliott. Then trade one of the picks for Jake Carlisle. Trade for Melbourne's compensation pick and/or St Kilda's number 1 pick and draft 2 of Wright, McCartin and Petracca.

I've been stumped on who WHE is, I've read these initials a lot and the penny finally dropped after I read your post. I really am slow....

[Ghost Dog]

This might actually work out well for us.

[The Underdog]

God I love Peter Gordon. I wouldn't trade him for any player. That's just a brilliant retort to a player walking out. Although inevitably the club will have to trade Griffin (Purposely misspelled. Feel the burn, bitch). I think we have to demand Boyd or Cameron are part of it. If we're going to make this turn out to our advantage we have to get a key forward out of it.

[LostDoggy]

Real men stand up and work through their issues. Cowards run away and hide in Rooty Hill. This is why professional athletes should never be called heroes.

Take them to the cleaners....nothing less than 2 1st round picks and Will Hoskin-Elliott. Then trade one of the picks for Jake Carlisle. Trade for Melbourne's compensation pick and/or St Kilda's number 1 pick and draft 2 of Wright, McCartin and Petracca.
FT doesn't do the 'you call that a knife?' thing. He gets out the Bren Gun. Love it.

[Doc26]

Yes, Hawthorn said they'd take him virtually no matter what. Then Pelchan did what he does best and the deal was off despite O'Keefe walking out. They repaired the relationship and was good for Sydney.

If we finish 16th next year, Griff is likely pick 4 compo. Stare them down for a gun kid and pick.

O'Keefe in a radio interview subsequently denied that Hawthorn was the Club that he was working on a trade with.

[bulldogtragic]

O'Keefe in a radio interview subsequently denied that Hawthorn was the Club that he was working on a trade with.

Really? I recall Pelchan was over the news for days talking about ROK.

[josie]

Well done PG and agree it tells GWS we are going to trade hard.

I wonder what this does for Leon Cameron's prospects as a future WB Coach....

[Doggy]

I wonder what this does for Leon Cameron's prospects as a future WB Coach....

I wonder what this does for Leon Cameron's friendship with Chris Grant

[F'scary]

Real men stand up and work through their issues. Cowards run away and hide in Rooty Hill. This is why professional athletes should never be called heroes.

Take them to the cleaners....nothing less than 2 1st round picks and Will Hoskin-Elliott. Then trade one of the picks for Jake Carlisle. Trade for Melbourne's compensation pick and/or St Kilda's number 1 pick and draft 2 of Wright, McCartin and Petracca.

Or Punchbowl.

[HOSE B ROMERO]

Far too many threads and posts to read but all i wish to say is that given Peter Gordon's integrity within our footy club but moreso outside of footy, I would back him before anyone else.

[bornadog]

PG had to make that statement he had no choice, but the problems are still there at the club between the players and the way they are treated by the coach.

I think there will be more to come before things settle.

[Sedat]

Good to see Peter Gordon come in off the Michael Holding run-up and give Griff and GWS some serious chin music. They would not have expected such a swift, direct and specifically targeted response. Griff especially would be feeling most uneasy tonight that he has become a major negative talking point in the AFL through self-inflicted means.

[Remi Moses]

Is there a bit of revenge at work here for Leon?
Didn't think he was the vengeful type, but maybe I'm jumping to conclusions
Granty and Leon's relationship might be a bit stained now.

[Raw Toast]

God I love Peter Gordon. I wouldn't trade him for any player. That's just a brilliant retort to a player walking out. Although inevitably the club will have to trade Griffin (Purposely misspelled. Feel the burn, bitch). I think we have to demand Boyd or Cameron are part of it. If we're going to make this turn out to our advantage we have to get a key forward out of it.

Indeed!! Though even with my Bulldogs glasses on I can't see them giving us Cameron, and I suspect we are more likely to end up with Patton rather than Boyd (in which case I'd want two picks in the top 10 and another very promising player).

Like most here, I'm very disappointed with Griffen, BUT for all those doing some character assassination, he's presumably been offered a shitload of money (remember how much GWS were offering Franklin, and how they still have almost all of that to spend, and are desperate for a marquee name, especially given how impressive Scully has been for them!). Add in his realisation that he is mortal with a dodgy back, and I think you have an offer that was likely very, very hard to refuse.

[Edit, apparently GWS are going to pay him less than we were - can't say I believe that, surely he'll get a backloaded contract or something of the sort. It might not be all about the money, but I'm sure that he'll be very well compensated in both money and contract length for this... I guess it's just the next stage in the spin/chess game, for GWS to say that Griff approached them first (BS detector on high alert there), and trying to salvage his reputation by saying all he wants to be is happy. Peter Gordon is a lawyer, I thinking he'll do well in the PR side of this battle.]

It's the system I hate, and the combination of expansion clubs and free agency system has clearly dudded us more than anyone else.

Here's to hoping that we make GWS pay with a trade that goes down as one of the most lop-sided in history (in our favour of course!).

[Twodogs]

Indeed!! Though even with my Bulldogs glasses on I can't see them giving us Cameron, and I suspect we are more likely to end up with Patton rather than Boyd (in which case I'd want two picks in the top 10 and another very promising player).

Like most here, I'm very disappointed with Griffen, BUT for all those doing some character assassination, he's presumably been offered a shitload of money (remember how much GWS were offering Franklin, and how they still have almost all of that to spend, and are desperate for a marquee name, especially given how impressive Scully has been for them!). Add in his realisation that he is mortal with a dodgy back, and I think you have an offer that was likely very, very hard to refuse.

[Edit, apparently GWS are going to pay him less than we were - can't say I believe that, surely he'll get a backloaded contract or something of the sort. It might not be all about the money, but I'm sure that he'll be very well compensated in both money and contract length for this... I guess it's just the next stage in the spin/chess game, for GWS to say that Griff approached them first (BS detector on high alert there), and trying to salvage his reputation by saying all he wants to be is happy. Peter Gordon is a lawyer, I thinking he'll do well in the PR side of this battle.]

It's the system I hate, and the combination of expansion clubs and free agency system has clearly dudded us more than anyone else.

Here's to hoping that we make GWS pay with a trade that goes down as one of the most lop-sided in history (in our favour of course!).



Nicely said RT. I especially like the last paragraph. This could be our John Pitura moment.

[Sedat]

God I love Peter Gordon.
I will love him a whole lot less if BMac has been sacked. If he has resigned however...

[Greystache]

I honestly thought for the first time we had some strong leadership at the club that could change the selfish and individualistic culture, but sadly it seems not.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

I honestly thought for the first time we had some strong leadership at the club that could change the selfish and individualistic culture, but sadly it seems not.

It took me a few hours to realise this and agree with you yesterday, but I was on board. It was an opportunity to change our culture in a dramatic way, and it seems within 24 hours we've buckled at the knees.

This is more about the culture/direction than who is head coach.

[jeemak]

Simon Garlick can immediately be sacked, and should. The Board should equally come under scrutiny, and have all positions opened up.

This is pathetic, unprofessional and embarrassing.

Like the many others, I feel this is a significant nail in the coffin of our club's culture resurrection.

[Doc26]

I honestly thought for the first time we had some strong leadership at the club that could change the selfish and individualistic culture, but sadly it seems not.

Agree stache. It appears as though those in charge have capitulated at the first significant hurdle that they've been confronted with in shifting the culture. This was their first legitimate opportunity to show strength and display true leadership. Tail has wagged the dog I'm afraid. If Macca has fallen on his sword, this is a big fail by the little boys in charge.

[BulldogBelle]

I'd love to hear David Smorgon's take on all this.

[LostDoggy]

Simon Garlick can immediately be sacked, and should. The Board should equally come under scrutiny, and have all positions opened up.

This is pathetic, unprofessional and embarrassing.

Like the many others, I feel this is a significant nail in the coffin of our club's culture resurrection.

I think you'll find this may be the first nail in the bulldogs coffin as an entity. I hope i'm wrong but its going to be hard for the club to come back from the past 2 days events.

[chef]

I think you'll find this may be the first nail in the bulldogs coffin as an entity. I hope i'm wrong but its going to be hard for the club to come back from the past 2 days events.

Seriously?

We've come back from worse than this.

[westdog54]

Seriously?

We've come back from worse than this.

When we've had worse than this we attacked the problem with a united front. With the amount of division that exists its hard to be optimistic about working through it.

[Twodogs]

Seriously?

We've come back from worse than this.

Much worse.


When we've had worse than this we attacked the problem with a united front. With the amount of division that exists its hard to be optimistic about working through it.

We may have presented a united front when faced with an external problem. This is a little more like a civil war.

[chef]

Much worse.




Yep, this is nothing compared to 89

[Bulldog4life]

Yep, this is nothing compared to 89

Exactly Chef. I am looking forward to and excited seeing us appoint a new coach and draft some more young guns. I seem to be on the outer but that is the way I feel.

[LostDoggy]

Civil wars can also be a lot more enduring.

[bornadog]

Exactly Chef. I am looking forward to and excited seeing us appoint a new coach and draft some more young guns. I seem to be on the outer but that is the way I feel.

I am with you. Onwards we go. I am excited about our young group, we still need some older players to get us through while the young ones gain experience.

[chef]

Exactly Chef. I am looking forward to and excited seeing us appoint a new coach and draft some more young guns. I seem to be on the outer but that is the way I feel.

Yep, hopefully we can keep weeding the garden and get a few more early draft picks.

[Twodogs]

Civil wars can also be a lot more enduring.

And vicious. And pointless.

[BulldogBelle]

Exactly Chef. I am looking forward to and excited seeing us appoint a new coach and draft some more young guns. I seem to be on the outer but that is the way I feel.

This will all be a big deal about nothing if we do well next year, and we'll all be saying " remember when .... And look at us now!"

[LostDoggy]

And vicious. And pointless.

So true

[hujsh]

Western Bulldogs: If Sudan or Syria were a sport club.

[Twodogs]

This will all be a big deal about nothing if we do well next year, and we'll all be saying " remember when .... And look at us now!"


Who thought that would happen so quick?

I knew Gordon wouldn't let us down.

[Bulldog4life]

Who thought that would happen so quick?

I knew Gordon wouldn't let us down.

I love having Peter in our corner.

[comrade]

Well done PG! I thought you overcooked this one but nope, tastes delicious...

[Twodogs]

Well done PG! I thought you overcooked this one but nope, tastes delicious...


When he first bought it out if the oven I didn't like the look of it at all but it melts in the mouth.

[josie]

Delicious, Delectable, delightful, de'wonderful, d'lovely, d'limit....It's d'Boyd. Thanks Peter Gordon !!

[wimberga]

Thank you so much peter gordon!!!