Open letter to Western Bulldog Members and Fans

[bornadog]

David Smorgon (http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/season2011/westernbulldogsnewsfeatures/newsarticle/tabid/4112/newsid/114581/default.aspx)

Everyone at the Western Bulldogs knows that yesterday’s loss was totally unacceptable - the players, coaches, management, staff and the Board of Directors - and we all apologise to our Members and Fans.

We all share the disappointment and embarrassment of losing a game by 123 points, our fourth worst loss in the clubs history and our worst since 1996.

The players are aware they have let you, the Club, themselves and the jumper down but despite this loss our season is NOT over.

With 14 rounds to play, I want to re-iterate that we will continue to support and encourage Rodney Eade and the match committee to make whatever changes they feel necessary to ensure we again start playing consistent footy every week and every quarter.

We set ambitious targets this year based on our consistent record over the past three years and achieving these targets is the responsibility of everyone at the Western Bulldogs and not the responsibility of any one individual. We are all in this together.

The most critical issue now is to review what went wrong yesterday and start planning positively so that we regain the respect that the red, white and blue jumper deserves - against the Hawks this Sunday.

As always, I urge you to join me to get behind our team because now more than ever we need you.

David Smorgon OAM
President, Western Bulldogs

[G-Mo77]

It's all good coming out and saying that but when words are not put into actions, well they're just words.

[GVGjr]

Well done to Smorgon for coming out with a strong message of support to the coach and the players. I understand that our supporters had invested a lot emotionally in what should have been a good year for us so I share their frustrations.

Sacking a coach mid season though as some are suggesting is an overly emotional response and good clubs like ours should work through the rough patches and eventually come out of it in a stronger position. We have done it before and we will no doubt do it again.

I have no problem with our supporters being as frustrated as they are but lets stay on course and stick with the club.

[Ghost Dog]

An open letter to David Smorgon

Dear D. S.

Delighted to get your letter. I hope my multiple calls to the switchboard did not overwhelm the wonderful staff at Whitten oval. The receptionist was awfully patient with my rantings. you may have also noticed my multiple emails of a concerned nature. So kind of you to reply.

David, I read in a recent study that many doctors now concur that Soap Operas have a positive affect on people's health. It's true!
The research says that in being engrossed by them, people feel a sense of familiarity with the characters, a sense of belonging is created and people also take on the actors as ' imaginary friends', helping to underpin a sense of security in our humble lives! Imagine that!!.

So it's of no surprise that Football clubs affect us humble members in the same way. I am at one with the players. I know every stat, all the ins and outs and I am ENGROSSED.

In my imaginary world, I go for a jog with Crossy in the morning and lift a few weights with Barry in the evening. All in my head mind you. When Bob pumps his fist with trademark grin, I like to pretend that he's doing it just for the pleasure of us members and little ol' me.

Nutty as hell Davo, I know, but I kid you not.

So David, you can imagine what a 120+ pasting does to my internal workings . It makes me cranky, like an old man who got skipped by meals on wheels. The button on the photocopier becomes a punching bag and all my co-workers wonder if there's been a death in my family. Well David, in a sense, there has.

On my run today, all my imaginary, normally red white and blue friends were sort of gray, pink and a faded bluey crappy colour.

Crossy was trying to run, unsmiling, wearing two left boots. Barry sulked around the gloomy gym, grinding his teeth, walking stick in hand, looking for his dentures. Callan ward was wearing curlers in his hair.....

David....my internal world is falling apart! AM I GOING MAD???

Please David, for the sake of my mental health, my internal wellbeing and sense of security....we MUST beat the living bjesus out of Hawthorn this week or surely they will have to come for me in the straight jacket

Oh, Do they have red white and blue straightjackets for sale at Whitten Oval David?

Dogged-ly yours

Ghostly Dawg

[AndrewP6]

A

David....my internal world is falling apart! AM I GOING MAD???


Quite possibly... :)

[The Whale]

Having been a supporter and member for over 40 years I have to say it was one of the most pitiful displays I have ever witnessed. The real issue here is that we as a club are on the whole unsuccessful. I look at clubs like Richmond, Carlton, Essendon, Collingwood, all go through lean periods, yet they have enough character within to recover. We have spent nearly ten years building to what appears now to be our pinnacle, two preliminary finals and that is an issue. We were outclassed, out muscled and outcoached and it was obvious the players have lost the desire. The truth is there is a major issue at the Western oval and it needs to be addressed. Sunday has been brewing since our handling of the Akermanis issue last year. We have not been on track since. I love the Bulldogs but I am getting very tired of the excuses year after year. We cannot recruit players with strong bodies who can win Grand Finals. Gotta say they are struggling to hang onto my investment next year.

[LostDoggy]

Sacking coaches now i agree is not going to prove nothing now, but show consistancy to the fans and beat some top sides, STOP the crap!

[LostDoggy]

Get behind us? Is he f#####g joking or what?

I did get behind you David. I travelled 6,000kms and cheered the entire match, all the way to the final siren. I copped the flak from the Eagles fans. I reassured my kids, who still sang the song anyway onthe way out.

Get behind me. Recruit players who are going to do their jobs. Send the others the way of Aker.

[KT31]

what appears now to be our pinnacle, two preliminary finals and that is an issue.

Don't know if you have been watching but it was three.


Gotta say they are struggling to hang onto my investment next year.
Way to show the club, and if we get a few more like you the Doggies won't exist.


Having been a supporter and member for over 40 years I have to say it was one of the most pitiful displays I have ever witnessed. The real issue here is that we as a club are on the whole unsuccessful. I look at clubs like Richmond, Carlton, Essendon, Collingwood, all go through lean periods, yet they have enough .

Would agree on the other three, but the Tigers have been pitiful for 30 years and don't even dare compare them to us.:mad:

[Remi Moses]

The Whale lost me at Richmond:eek:

[bornadog]

Having been a supporter and member for over 40 years I have to say it was one of the most pitiful displays I have ever witnessed. The real issue here is that we as a club are on the whole unsuccessful. I look at clubs like Richmond, Carlton, Essendon, Collingwood, all go through lean periods, yet they have enough character within to recover. We have spent nearly ten years building to what appears now to be our pinnacle, two preliminary finals and that is an issue. We were outclassed, out muscled and outcoached and it was obvious the players have lost the desire. The truth is there is a major issue at the Western oval and it needs to be addressed. Sunday has been brewing since our handling of the Akermanis issue last year. We have not been on track since. I love the Bulldogs but I am getting very tired of the excuses year after year. We cannot recruit players with strong bodies who can win Grand Finals. Gotta say they are struggling to hang onto my investment next year.

I understand what your saying, but I think you erred including Richmond, who have been in two finals for the past 30 years.

Edit: Sorry repeated KT31 and Remi posts I should have read on.

[LostDoggy]

I've never seen an open letter from a club president apologising for a performance in a home and away game before, which suggests how terrible we must have been. It was a real shock to the system when I saw the final score. We Dogs fans are a hardy breed, but boy they don't make it easy, do they. It's hard to know where to go from here, or even how to react to such an outlier of a result. I guess all we can do as supporters/members is to wait in hope for a better showing next week.

[aker39]

I've never seen an open letter from a club president apologising for a performance in a home and away game before, which suggests how terrible we must have been. It was a real shock to the system when I saw the final score.

I know we have had some bad losses over the years, and some very bad losses at that, but Sunday would have to go down as one of the worst days in the history of the club.

To be only 22 points down at the 12 minute mark of the 3rd quarter and go on to lose by 123 points is quite staggering. In 48 minutes of football, we allowed the opposition to score 19 goals to our 1. That's a goal every 2 and half minutes.

Hence the letter from Smorgon.

[bornadog]

I know we have had some bad losses over the years, and some very bad losses at that, but Sunday would have to go down as one of the worst days in the history of the club.

To be only 22 points down at the 12 minute mark of the 3rd quarter and go on to lose by 123 points is quite staggering. In 48 minutes of football, we allowed the opposition to score 19 goals to our 1. That's a goal every 2 and half minutes.

Hence the letter from Smorgon.

and we allowed Collingwood to score 8 goals in 20 minutes after we drew level in the last quarter. Something is wrong in the heads of these players.

[Desipura]

and we allowed Collingwood to score 8 goals in 20 minutes after we drew level in the last quarter. Something is wrong in the heads of these players.

Thats when your leaders are supposed to step up. The game has passed a number of them, we need to retire the likes of Huddo, Cross, Gia, Gilbee and Hall over the course of the year.
Thats alot of experience to lose in one season, I just dont see any other way we can move forward.

[bornadog]

Thats when your leaders are supposed to step up. The game has passed a number of them, we need to retire the likes of Huddo, Cross, Gia, Gilbee and Hall over the course of the year.
Thats alot of experience to lose in one season, I just dont see any other way we can move forward.

The retirement must be measured and logical so that we have suitable replacements.

[Desipura]

The retirement must be measured and logical so that we have suitable replacements.
Do that, and the pain will be longer. We need do it now otherwise the likes of Griffen and Cooney will be at the twilight of their careers.

[bornadog]

Do that, and the pain will be longer. We need do it now otherwise the likes of Griffen and Cooney will be at the twilight of their careers.

So your happy to throw away the rest of the season.

[Desipura]

So your happy to throw away the rest of the season.

Im saying over the course of the remainder of the season replace the veterans with the likes of Roughy, Wallis, Schofield, Dahlhaus, Howard, Cordy and Vespa

[bornadog]

Im saying over the course of the remainder of the season replace the veterans with the likes of Roughy, Wallis, Schofield, Dahlhaus, Howard, Cordy and Vespa

That will give us 16 players with less than 50 games average and over ten with less than 20. Would be an interesting season, probably similar to the SUNS.

I very much doubt we will see them alll in together. However, if you mean they come in and out and get a game here and there, why not.

[Scraggers]

An open letter to David Smorgon

Dear D. S.

Delighted to get your letter. I hope my multiple calls to the switchboard did not overwhelm the wonderful staff at Whitten oval. The receptionist was awfully patient with my rantings. you may have also noticed my multiple emails of a concerned nature. So kind of you to reply.

David, I read in a recent study that many doctors now concur that Soap Operas have a positive affect on people's health. It's true!
The research says that in being engrossed by them, people feel a sense of familiarity with the characters, a sense of belonging is created and people also take on the actors as ' imaginary friends', helping to underpin a sense of security in our humble lives! Imagine that!!.

So it's of no surprise that Football clubs affect us humble members in the same way. I am at one with the players. I know every stat, all the ins and outs and I am ENGROSSED.

In my imaginary world, I go for a jog with Crossy in the morning and lift a few weights with Barry in the evening. All in my head mind you. When Bob pumps his fist with trademark grin, I like to pretend that he's doing it just for the pleasure of us members and little ol' me.

Nutty as hell Davo, I know, but I kid you not.

So David, you can imagine what a 120+ pasting does to my internal workings . It makes me cranky, like an old man who got skipped by meals on wheels. The button on the photocopier becomes a punching bag and all my co-workers wonder if there's been a death in my family. Well David, in a sense, there has.

On my run today, all my imaginary, normally red white and blue friends were sort of gray, pink and a faded bluey crappy colour.

Crossy was trying to run, unsmiling, wearing two left boots. Barry sulked around the gloomy gym, grinding his teeth, walking stick in hand, looking for his dentures. Callan ward was wearing curlers in his hair.....

David....my internal world is falling apart! AM I GOING MAD???

Please David, for the sake of my mental health, my internal wellbeing and sense of security....we MUST beat the living bjesus out of Hawthorn this week or surely they will have to come for me in the straight jacket

Oh, Do they have red white and blue straightjackets for sale at Whitten Oval David?

Dogged-ly yours

Ghostly Dawg

Thank you GD ... I needed a good laugh this week

[Scraggers]

In all seriousness, I applaud Smorgon and his open letter. Something official had to be said, and this was a dignified yet positive response.

[Maddog37]

I think it was purely to address the media and stop them from camping out at Whitten Oval.

A pre-emptive strike.

[bornadog]

I think it was purely to address the media and stop them from camping out at Whitten Oval.

A pre-emptive strike.

or the fans storming down there and tearing apart the $30 million renovations.:D

[ledge]

My worry is Rocket stated the players did not follow instructions, are the players over Rockets coaching?

[ratsmac]

The Whale lost me at Richmond:eek:

lol.

[1eyedog]

I think it was purely to address the media and stop them from camping out at Whitten Oval.

A pre-emptive strike.

I think he is purely doing his job. What else was he ever going to say? This is a stock, template response to a shalacking.

[Ghost Dog]

I think he is purely doing his job. What else was he ever going to say? This is a stock, template response to a shalacking.

How are ya 1eye?

Yes Yes we know. Smorgo eats red, white and blue fruit loops for breakfast, in his Brad Johnson, 300 game Memorial boxer shorts. What else is he gonna say?

But in suggesting it's a template response, you are implying that there could be a better response. Put yourself in Smorgo's hush puppies for a moment. Could he have written anything else?

[AndrewP6]

I've never seen an open letter from a club president apologising for a performance in a home and away game before, which suggests how terrible we must have been. It was a real shock to the system when I saw the final score. We Dogs fans are a hardy breed, but boy they don't make it easy, do they. It's hard to know where to go from here, or even how to react to such an outlier of a result. I guess all we can do as supporters/members is to wait in hope for a better showing next week.

Jeff Kennett's done it several times.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/jeff-kennett-slams-appalling-effort/story-e6frf9jf-1225902921701

[LostDoggy]

So your happy to throw away the rest of the season.

Didn't we pretty much watch our players do that on Sunday.....:confused:

[LostDoggy]

My worry is Rocket stated the players did not follow instructions, are the players over Rockets coaching?

Agree - major concern. But if "they" (as it seems endemic) have the lattitude to simply ignore instructions without serious repercusions then will they listen to any coach? Has Lake, who I love 95% of the time and want to punch 5% of the time, set a trend here? We were ALL about the tackle count, forward pressure, blah blah preseason and I'm yet to see much of it. Sack the buggers who won't fight and obey team instructions and let's have a look at some of the young fella's. You wanta wear these colours - you've gotta respect them and the club leadership.

[bornadog]

Didn't we pretty much watch our players do that on Sunday.....:confused:

With 14 games to go, I am not convinced.

[Remi Moses]

Blimey supporters would have had an open letter every week in the Royce Hart debacle!
Logical response I would have thought, members are of the utmost importance these days.
Now it's up to the playing group only

[chef]

So your happy to throw away the rest of the season.

A waste would be not to get games into our next generation players, do you think we can win the flag with this team? . This season is shot and quite a number of our players are too. We need to start focusing on 2012 and beyond.

[Daughter of the West]

Yes Yes we know. Smorgo eats red, white and blue fruit loops for breakfast, in his Brad Johnson, 300 game Memorial boxer shorts.

Now there's a mental image whilst I eat my cereal! :D

I must admit Jeff Kennett did spring to mind when I saw that letter, but IMHO (as others have said) it was a good pre-emptive move.

[Maddog37]

A waste would be not to get games into our next generation players, do you think we can win the flag with this team? . This season is shot and quite a number of our players are too. We need to start focusing on 2012 and beyond.

Agreed Chef. This team of players has missed the boat. Time to look forward. Nothing negative in that as far as I am concerned.

We do not need to throw the baby out with the bathwater though. I see it that where there is a line ball selection decision you simply err on the side of youth. Also implement a regimented rotation system so we get games into as many kids as possible while they have the protection of a solid core of senior players around them.

[ratsmac]

I liked the fact that the club gave a reaction. If we lost like that and I heard nothing from the club about the fact that they seething, then I would be seething.