BulldogBelle
01-06-2009, 07:01 PM
Good article in the West Australian...
Wallace apologises for Bulldogs past (http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=577209)
The West Australian
1st June 2009
Terry Wallace has apologised to the Western Bulldogs for the messy way he left the AFL club seven years ago, and is honoured he will get the chance to say goodbye.
Wallace used Monday's announcement that he had quit as Richmond coach to "right a few wrongs", and said he was sorry for how his first coaching stint ended, when he walked out on the Bulldogs because he had nothing left to give.
He will finish his coaching career on Friday night when the Tigers play the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium in a game that is bound to raise the emotions of players and fans on both sides.
Wallace coached the Bulldogs from 1996 to 2002, but ahead of the last game of the 2002 season he announced it was time someone else challenged the players as he had lost his passion.
Bulldogs president David Smorgon said at the time he felt betrayed at losing his coach with two years left on his contract, and decided against granting Wallace a farewell game.
The relationship between the pair deteriorated to the point where Smorgon warned rival clubs to be wary of Wallace should they ever consider him as coach.
Wallace, whose departure from Richmond seems far more amicable, said he had enjoyed "14 wonderful years" as player, assistant coach and then senior coach at the Bulldogs, but still regretted his "one horrible week".
He apologised to Smorgon, Bulldog players and fans.
"It was never my intention for it to go down the pathway it did," he said.
"My kids grew up at that club, I've got some of my greatest friends that I've had in the game at that club and I hope somewhere along the line those wounds will heal because I think it's a fantastic footy club."
An official from the Bulldogs said Smorgon was unavailable for comment, but that he had accepted the apology "unreservedly".
"We acknowledge Terry Wallace's contribution to the club over his six years as coach, four years as a player as well as his life membership," the spokesman said.
"However despite today's announcement, the club's focused on Friday night's game."
Wallace said initial legal constraints and then his position at Richmond had prevented him apologising to the Bulldogs earlier.
But he said he had followed the careers of the Bulldogs players he had recruited, and was pleased to get the chance to take a closer look this week.
"It will be my honour to have my last game against those guys that I drafted at the Western Bulldogs," he said.
"... we all make mistakes in our life and ... they weren't made for malicious reasons.
"But they certainly hurt a lot of people including myself."
Friday night's game will also pit Wallace against his long-time contemporary, Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade.
Wallace and Eade played together in three Hawthorn premiership sides, began their coaching careers in 1996 (Eade at Sydney), ended their first stints in 2002 and began their second stints in 2005.
Wallace apologises for Bulldogs past (http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=577209)
The West Australian
1st June 2009
Terry Wallace has apologised to the Western Bulldogs for the messy way he left the AFL club seven years ago, and is honoured he will get the chance to say goodbye.
Wallace used Monday's announcement that he had quit as Richmond coach to "right a few wrongs", and said he was sorry for how his first coaching stint ended, when he walked out on the Bulldogs because he had nothing left to give.
He will finish his coaching career on Friday night when the Tigers play the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium in a game that is bound to raise the emotions of players and fans on both sides.
Wallace coached the Bulldogs from 1996 to 2002, but ahead of the last game of the 2002 season he announced it was time someone else challenged the players as he had lost his passion.
Bulldogs president David Smorgon said at the time he felt betrayed at losing his coach with two years left on his contract, and decided against granting Wallace a farewell game.
The relationship between the pair deteriorated to the point where Smorgon warned rival clubs to be wary of Wallace should they ever consider him as coach.
Wallace, whose departure from Richmond seems far more amicable, said he had enjoyed "14 wonderful years" as player, assistant coach and then senior coach at the Bulldogs, but still regretted his "one horrible week".
He apologised to Smorgon, Bulldog players and fans.
"It was never my intention for it to go down the pathway it did," he said.
"My kids grew up at that club, I've got some of my greatest friends that I've had in the game at that club and I hope somewhere along the line those wounds will heal because I think it's a fantastic footy club."
An official from the Bulldogs said Smorgon was unavailable for comment, but that he had accepted the apology "unreservedly".
"We acknowledge Terry Wallace's contribution to the club over his six years as coach, four years as a player as well as his life membership," the spokesman said.
"However despite today's announcement, the club's focused on Friday night's game."
Wallace said initial legal constraints and then his position at Richmond had prevented him apologising to the Bulldogs earlier.
But he said he had followed the careers of the Bulldogs players he had recruited, and was pleased to get the chance to take a closer look this week.
"It will be my honour to have my last game against those guys that I drafted at the Western Bulldogs," he said.
"... we all make mistakes in our life and ... they weren't made for malicious reasons.
"But they certainly hurt a lot of people including myself."
Friday night's game will also pit Wallace against his long-time contemporary, Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade.
Wallace and Eade played together in three Hawthorn premiership sides, began their coaching careers in 1996 (Eade at Sydney), ended their first stints in 2002 and began their second stints in 2005.