Bulldog4life
28-05-2015, 02:40 PM
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/afl-western-bulldogs-to-emerge-stronger-from-griffen-saga-club-chief-20150527-ghayo7.html
Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon insists he holds no grudge against former captain Ryan Griffen and believes his club will ultimately emerge stronger from a harrowing end to the 2014 campaign.
Gordon found himself in the middle of a stunning mess a day after the club's best and fairest in October when it emerged Griffen was so disenchanted with coach Brendan McCartney that he wanted to leave the club, with several of his team-mates also unhappy.
Having discussed the situation with his mother and brother Travis, Griffen opted to head to Greater Western Sydney, with the Dogs claiming emerging young forward Tom Boyd in return. Gordon then delved into McCartney's situation, with the coach ultimately leaving the club.
Gordon said he had not had time to reflect on that period, although he took umbrage when it was suggested the club had been in crisis, insisting it had only been a "tough week in the office".
With Griffen to run out against his former team for the first time, when the Giants visit Etihad Stadium on Saturday, Gordon said he held no anger towards the silky midfielder who played 202 matches for the Dogs and twice was a best and fairest.
"I think they (Dogs coaches and players) have been more concerned with the way we went against Melbourne and making sure that we put on a showing that is more reflective about where we think we are in the competition than fixating on any particular individual that's on the other side," Gordon said on Wednesday.
"We wish all of our past players and coaches all the best. We wish it genuinely, whether it's Tutty (Jason Tutt) and Jonesy (Liam Jones) at Carlton or anyone else. They have all pulled on the red, white and blue, whatever the circumstances of them leaving, they made a contribution while they were here.
"We are respectful of the contribution they made and we are now focused on the jobs and duties we have to undertake for the Bulldogs in 2015."
Gordon's frustration, however, had been palpable last year when, in a club statement, he said Griffen had informed the Dogs "that he was seeking a trade to GWS – with whom we now understand he was in communication during this time (when on holidays). We are extremely disappointed at his approach and have no intention of indulging it."
That changed when the Bulldogs were able to negotiate a seven-year, $6 million contract with Boyd and his manager, Liam Pickering. However, the Bulldogs were still required to offer up their first-round draft pick and contribute what is believed to be $900,000 of Griffen's four-year contract with the Giants.
The Bulldogs have shown major improvement under new coach Luke Beveridge, although they have lost their past three matches, with Boyd subbed out of the loss to the Demons on Sunday.
"I said at the time, I think I regarded it (the Griffen trade) more as a tough week in the office and copped a fair bit of stick ... for saying so. I think that when running a business your perception of what constitutes a crisis and what doesn't is a little different, respectfully, if you have spent your time writing these things rather than actually running the business," Gordon said.
"If I reflect on those words at all and the press conference (when Griffen and McCartney left), I think what stands out for me and that I would like our members to remember is that I promised them that we would emerge stronger in 2015. A lot of people laughed at that but I still believe that it will be proved to be true and it is proving to be true."
Gordon boldly declared at the Bulldogs' season launch that he felt the club was on the verge of perhaps its greatest era. Only time will prove whether that was correct, but Gordon believes the planks are in place.
"We are thrilled to have Tom. We are thrilled to have Luke as our senior coach, we are delighted to have Murph (Bob Murphy) as a our captain," he said.
"We are just really, really pleased with the development of the youngsters that we have got. We are delighted with the job that our recruiting and list management staff have done with the likes of Lukas Webb and Joel Hamling and Bailey Dale. So far Lukas Webb and Bailey Dale have made their senior debuts but we had a terrific performance in the twos last week by Toby McLean, who was our first draft pick last year."
Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon insists he holds no grudge against former captain Ryan Griffen and believes his club will ultimately emerge stronger from a harrowing end to the 2014 campaign.
Gordon found himself in the middle of a stunning mess a day after the club's best and fairest in October when it emerged Griffen was so disenchanted with coach Brendan McCartney that he wanted to leave the club, with several of his team-mates also unhappy.
Having discussed the situation with his mother and brother Travis, Griffen opted to head to Greater Western Sydney, with the Dogs claiming emerging young forward Tom Boyd in return. Gordon then delved into McCartney's situation, with the coach ultimately leaving the club.
Gordon said he had not had time to reflect on that period, although he took umbrage when it was suggested the club had been in crisis, insisting it had only been a "tough week in the office".
With Griffen to run out against his former team for the first time, when the Giants visit Etihad Stadium on Saturday, Gordon said he held no anger towards the silky midfielder who played 202 matches for the Dogs and twice was a best and fairest.
"I think they (Dogs coaches and players) have been more concerned with the way we went against Melbourne and making sure that we put on a showing that is more reflective about where we think we are in the competition than fixating on any particular individual that's on the other side," Gordon said on Wednesday.
"We wish all of our past players and coaches all the best. We wish it genuinely, whether it's Tutty (Jason Tutt) and Jonesy (Liam Jones) at Carlton or anyone else. They have all pulled on the red, white and blue, whatever the circumstances of them leaving, they made a contribution while they were here.
"We are respectful of the contribution they made and we are now focused on the jobs and duties we have to undertake for the Bulldogs in 2015."
Gordon's frustration, however, had been palpable last year when, in a club statement, he said Griffen had informed the Dogs "that he was seeking a trade to GWS – with whom we now understand he was in communication during this time (when on holidays). We are extremely disappointed at his approach and have no intention of indulging it."
That changed when the Bulldogs were able to negotiate a seven-year, $6 million contract with Boyd and his manager, Liam Pickering. However, the Bulldogs were still required to offer up their first-round draft pick and contribute what is believed to be $900,000 of Griffen's four-year contract with the Giants.
The Bulldogs have shown major improvement under new coach Luke Beveridge, although they have lost their past three matches, with Boyd subbed out of the loss to the Demons on Sunday.
"I said at the time, I think I regarded it (the Griffen trade) more as a tough week in the office and copped a fair bit of stick ... for saying so. I think that when running a business your perception of what constitutes a crisis and what doesn't is a little different, respectfully, if you have spent your time writing these things rather than actually running the business," Gordon said.
"If I reflect on those words at all and the press conference (when Griffen and McCartney left), I think what stands out for me and that I would like our members to remember is that I promised them that we would emerge stronger in 2015. A lot of people laughed at that but I still believe that it will be proved to be true and it is proving to be true."
Gordon boldly declared at the Bulldogs' season launch that he felt the club was on the verge of perhaps its greatest era. Only time will prove whether that was correct, but Gordon believes the planks are in place.
"We are thrilled to have Tom. We are thrilled to have Luke as our senior coach, we are delighted to have Murph (Bob Murphy) as a our captain," he said.
"We are just really, really pleased with the development of the youngsters that we have got. We are delighted with the job that our recruiting and list management staff have done with the likes of Lukas Webb and Joel Hamling and Bailey Dale. So far Lukas Webb and Bailey Dale have made their senior debuts but we had a terrific performance in the twos last week by Toby McLean, who was our first draft pick last year."