Club Statement on Callan Ward

[bornadog]

Callan Ward today informed the Western Bulldogs that he will head to the new AFL franchise Greater Western Sydney for season 2012.

Bulldogs Chief Executive, Simon Garlick said it was incredibly disappointing he had chosen not to be at the Dogs next year.

“We have done everything we responsibly could to keep Callan at the Western Bulldogs,” Garlick said.

“While it’s disappointing that Callan has made this decision, we will be looking to ensure we receive appropriate compensation to enable us to continue to build on our solid core of experienced players and exciting pool of young talent.

“There is a massive opportunity to positively contribute to our list which has already had a fantastic boost in recent weeks with the re-signing of eight of our young guns,” Garlick said.

Garlick also confirmed that further re-signings would be announced shortly.

for westernbulldogs.com.au (http://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/westernbulldogsnewsfeatures/newsarticle/tabid/4112/newsid/122697/default.aspx)

[Greystache]

Wow, what a shock. After a gut wrenching 12 months where he simply couldn't decide what to do he finally manages to make the decision to take the money the day after the season finishes.

Now *!*!*!*! off you lying mercenary.

[Bulldog Revolution]

I'm just over it, its done, compensate us and pick good kids to replace him

The sooner we get a new coach on board the better

[Grantysghost]

Wow i just did a Rafa and slid of my chair in shock ;)

[angelopetraglia]

We all knew it was coming, but to read the official statement still makes me fill ill.

A massive stake in the heart. I just can't see the likes of Essendon, Collingwood or Carlton losing the best young talent to other clubs.

I just hope this isn't the begining of a new era (with free agency) that sees us unable to keep our best talent like in previous generations (Quinlan, Round, Dempsey, Edmond, Templeton etc.). The best players of our most recent generation all stayed loyal (West, Grant, Johnson, Smith, Darcy, Wynd, Libba etc.).

I just feel history is about to repeat itself. Sad, very sad day for our club.

[bulldogsman]

Callan I'd have some respect for you if you were honest, but you lied to my face and to others. Good riddance.

[bornadog]

I am now looking forward to what picks will come our way.

[The Coon Dog]

Its decisions like this that turn people away from the game.

[LostDoggy]

Well, knock me down with a feather! Urrgghhh! I'm frankly over it too, and whilst it hurts like hell, let's just pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and get on with the job of finding a new coach and hopefully reaping some just reward for his decision. Agree with you CoonDog, it's just a sad, sad day for football really.......:(

[Dancin' Douggy]

I am disgusted in the clubs decision to play him against Freo. Disgusted.

[SlimPickens]

I am disgusted in the clubs decision to play him against Freo. Disgusted.

weak as piss springs to mind

[w3design]

I guess you could say that he never played 60 games for the Dogs. Most games towards the end of the year, he was playing for himself and NOT the jumper......:mad:
Bon voyage.
Hope Ward has a chat to Nathan Brown about 'Karma'

[chef]

Its decisions like this that turn people away from the game.

I think it says more about the players character than it does the game and it makes you appreciate people like Griffen even more.

[BulldogBelle]

weak as piss springs to mind



Melbourne had the balls to drop Scully for the last game vs Port

Now Fantasia, Garlick and Smorgan need to be on the air and on the phone to AFL HQ demanding that we are compensated adequetely for Ward

[bornadog]

Tweet from Emma Q

I completely understand why Cal Ward is going yet it makes me really sad. Why? Kids leaving clubs that they love for crazy money I guess

[w3design]

I guess the best theory now is to employ a Peter Rhode type coach for a year, so that we finish towards the bottom, so that we can use the Ward compensation picks next year between Picks 1 - 10.....

[SlimPickens]

Melbourne had the balls to drop Scully for the last game vs Port

Now Fantasia, Garlick and Smorgan need to be on the air and on the phone to AFL HQ demanding that we are compensated adequetely for Ward

It's my understanding that the players wanted him to play. Thats fine but the MC don't have to agree with it.

agree with what you've said.

[bornadog]

I guess the best theory now is to employ a Peter Rhode type coach for a year, so that we finish towards the bottom, so that we can use the Ward compensation picks next year between Picks 1 - 10.....

We don't need a Peter Rhode type, doesn't matter who we have, we will most likely finish outside the 8 anyway. We just don't have the players, in the 23 to 28 group that will take us to finals.

Cooney is shot, which leaves Griffen; everyone else is either too old or too young. We have to get more games into the young guys and get them over 50 games and then we may have a shot at finals.

[dadsgirl16]

I guess a new avatar is in order...shattered but not surprised

[The Coon Dog]

I think it says more about the players character than it does the game and it makes you appreciate people like Griffen even more.

No, that's not it Chef. I can't understand how the game allows a young kid to be placed in such a position where he has a decision such as this to make.

[Grantysghost]

We don't need a Peter Rhode type, doesn't matter who we have, we will most likely finish outside the 8 anyway. We just don't have the players, in the 23 to 28 group that will take us to finals.

Cooney is shot, which leaves Griffen; everyone else is either too old or too young. We have to get more games into the young guys and get them over 50 games and then we may have a shot at finals.

Looking back at 2009 Prelim side where i guess we were at the peak of our powers in the Eade era and the differences to now are quite staggering :

Gone : Harbrow, Johnson, Hahn, Callan, Akermanis, Hudson, Ward, Welsh, Eagleton.

Hall gone our best goal kicker two seasons post 2009.

Doubts over Gilbee, Cooney, Lake, Hargrave that remain.

[LostDoggy]

Tweet from Emma Q

I completely understand why Cal Ward is going yet it makes me really sad. Why? Kids leaving clubs that they love for crazy money I guess

He'll get out of life whatever he looks for. If it's money, he'll get it. Love, loyalty and friendship have taken the backseat.

I can't blame him, not really. I'm furious about it, and he broke my heart, but at the end of the day he's a young guy who's out to make a living for himself. This will set him up for life, financially.

But now?

He's the enemy. Just another player in another opposition guernsey. Fair game…

[Cyberdoggie]

Its decisions like this that turn people away from the game.

I would turn straight back on if we used that money we offered Callan to lure Butcher from Port. :)

[Greystache]

Nathan Brown said something interesting on the footy show on Sunday. He said Callan Ward is known as cement head, perhaps he realises with his limited intellectual ability he needs to make more out of his time in football than other players, due to having less chance to build a successful post-football career.

A fair slap, but perhaps goes toward explaining why most players turned down the GWS money and he didn't.

[Maddog37]

Well I am going to take the high road and wish him all the best.

Bitterness and holding grudges is a fast way to nowhere.

I can choose to spend my time worrying about Ward or thinking how good it is to have players like Griff and Cross and even little Grommet.

Ward is no longer worth the sweat of my knackerbags.

Go Dogs!!!!

[LostDoggy]

Sad to see him go - but it was expected. Definetly, does not make it any easier as a supporter. The club needs us supporters now more than ever over the next few years. And lets hope that we can move forward !!!!

[Grantysghost]

Nathan Brown said something interesting on the footy show on Sunday. He said Callan Ward is known as cement head, perhaps he realises with his limited intellectual ability he needs to make more out of his time in football than other players, due to having less chance to build a successful post-football career.

A fair slap, but perhaps goes toward explaining why most players turned down the GWS money and he didn't.

Probably more to do with his attack on the footy.

[Mantis]

Probably more to do with his attack on the footy.

That isn't true.

[Remi Moses]

Apparently according to his manager , Paul Connors it's just not about the money.
Stay indoors folks Flying Pig alert

[azabob]

Apparently according to his manager , Paul Connors it's just not about the money.
Stay indoors folks Flying Pig alert

Did he happen to say what it was about then?

It wasn't about the money? Then what was it about?

[w3design]

We lose another gun kid in that age bracket we lack while the big 5 clubs lose nothing what a joke.
Hope Wards career ends like another money hungry player Nathan Brown brake a leg ward good luck at the giants .

[bornadog]

Nathan Brown said something interesting on the footy show on Sunday. He said Callan Ward is known as cement head, perhaps he realises with his limited intellectual ability he needs to make more out of his time in football than other players, due to having less chance to build a successful post-football career.

A fair slap, but perhaps goes toward explaining why most players turned down the GWS money and he didn't.

Well Rocket described him at best a B plus player because he lacks the smarts to be an A Grader, a lot of truth in his nick name.

[Remi Moses]

It's my understanding that the players wanted him to play. Thats fine but the MC don't have to agree with it.

agree with what you've said.

Talk about the tail wagging the dog( pardon the pun)
Why bother having a MC might as well have the players pick the side every week!
What a gutless Lilly livid decision:mad:

[strebla]

What really hurts me is he is a local boy and knows what it may mean to the local kids. What does this teach them take the money and run team-mates and friends are secondary!!! As for his manager he has to say that just as Nathan went to play finals he just doubled his share and I am sure he wasn't thinking about that!!

[Remi Moses]

Did he happen to say what it was about then?

It wasn't about the money? Then what was it about?

Waffled on about the up coming draft picks and the future prospects.

[Ghost Dog]

Paul Williams made the comment that he thought booing Ward was " un-Australian"
I understand where he's coming from.

However, when other clubs are dropping their defecting players, it basically says the club thinks we are a bunch of chumps....CHUMPS!
we knew they knew, and they knew we knew that they knew. But the charade was played out.

We would have beaten Freo by a mile, without Callan, and in my view,
if the players are going to be super precious about it, and would have been upset, had he not played, it bodes well for the spirit amongst the playing group, but it shows there is a wide gap between how they feel and the supporters feel about the club.

[GVGjr]

We lose another gun kid in that age bracket we lack while the big 5 clubs lose nothing what a joke.
Hope Wards career ends like another money hungry player Nathan Brown brake a leg ward good luck at the giants .
It might also say something about clubs like ours ability to be pro active enough at re signing players as well.
There is some speculation we had a chance to sign him last year but for whatever reason stalled.

[strebla]

It might also say something about clubs like ours ability to be pro active enough at re signing players as well.
There is some speculation we had a chance to sign him last year but for whatever reason stalled.

If there is a scerrick of truth to this then Fanasia should be sacked some of his contract negotiations have been deplorable I know we need a list manager but if we had the chance to sign Callan and didn't that is gross incompetence!!!!:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

[azabob]

It might also say something about clubs like ours ability to be pro active enough at re signing players as well.
There is some speculation we had a chance to sign him last year but for whatever reason stalled.

From my understanding we put a less than worthy contact to him mid last year. All speculation now.

As you have pointed out as well as Sedat we dont seem to be able sell our vision and our future very well.

[LostDoggy]

Callan - loved watching you play in the red, white and blue. Now that you have chosen to leave us, i am going to hope that you never have the ultimate success and will love giving you as much grief as i can.

You are either with us or against us. As a local boy, you have chosen to turn your back on the club that you and your family barracked for. Not a smart move. Take the money and run you turncoat.

[BulldogBelle]

OK - Ward is gone.

The sky isnt falling.

Lets think about all of the players that we re-signed in the last 5-10 years - who has split and ran for the cash- Brown? Harbrow? Ward?

Lets focus out efforts on ensuring we are provided with adequete compensation from GWS - our President and CEO need to be on the phone to AFL HQ and they need to be fronting the media ASAP - and demanding that we recieve fair compensation for Ward.

[The Coon Dog]

Lets focus out efforts on ensuring we are provided with adequete compensation from GWS - our President and CEO need to be on the phone to AFL HQ and they need to be fronting the media ASAP - and demanding that we recieve fair compensation for Ward.

Just at the moment I find it hard to believe anything our club is telling us.

On Saturday James Fantasia was selling hope that we could retain Ward when he & everyone else knew Ward had already decided to leave. I felt sick listening to it.

Heard Smorgo talk in the social club & it was less than inspiring to be honest.

[LostDoggy]

Long time coming. Glad its finally official.

Always loved the way he went about it, kids got skill.

But the amount their paying for him? He isn't worth that much, as it was touted by (Darcy I think) on radio- $800-850k a year for our 3rd? 4th? best midfielder, seems pretty stupid. But if thats a pricetag for 'Potential' hope he doesn't live upto their standards.

Players leaving for money don't deserve success.

[the banker]

Ward was NOT the heart and soul of our Club. Other players have that status. The kid can play a bit but ATM he is a B grader. It is nonetheless a real kick in the guts for us, but hey, lets get adequate compensation and move on. Opportunity knocks for Tutt, Howard, Wallis and Libba.

Lets get the better of this situation.

Cal will live with his decision.

[LostDoggy]

Great. Let's get some top draft picks, train and nurture some young talent for a few years and then watch them leave for more money elsewhere. Am feeling pretty cynical and uninspired by the footy landscape these days.

[Ghost Dog]

Probably more to do with his attack on the footy.

Jeezus. Brown is not the fastest Kangaroo in the paddock by any stretch. What a stupid thing to say.

[1eyedog]

Let's just see what we get as compensation and what the options are with the picks.

Footy has made me a nastier person this year.

[Bulldog4life]

Callan - loved watching you play in the red, white and blue. Now that you have chosen to leave us, i am going to hope that you never have the ultimate success and will love giving you as much grief as i can.

You are either with us or against us. As a local boy, you have chosen to turn your back on the club that you and your family barracked for. Not a smart move. Take the money and run you turncoat.

That's the problem....they didn't. Might have a bit to do with it too.

[LostDoggy]

Callan who?

Go dogs.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Hope Ward's career goes to shit.

There's a few people I know already who have 'walked away' - per se - from football and the club. I think it's completely understandable.

[LostDoggy]

Callan who?

Go dogs.

^^ This.

[bornadog]

Hope Ward's career goes to shit.

There's a few people I know already who have 'walked away' - per se - from football and the club. I think it's completely understandable.

pussies:D

[MrMahatma]

I'm disappointed, but in reality I think he's been overrated. Tough, hard at it, sounds like a good kid. Average skills most of the time. We need more polish and hopefully we use this as an opportunity, not a problem.

[BulldogBelle]

Great. Let's get some top draft picks, train and nurture some young talent for a few years and then watch them leave for more money elsewhere. Am feeling pretty cynical and uninspired by the footy landscape these days.



So true MS.

[GVGjr]

From my understanding we put a less than worthy contact to him mid last year. All speculation now.

As you have pointed out as well as Sedat we dont seem to be able sell our vision and our future very well.


This is the thing. I'm very disappointed in Wards decision and whilst it's understandable I don't think he has made the right decision and the timing of it is far from ideal. You simply can't put a price on the adulation he would have received if he had chosen to stay.

That being said, why did he make that decision and how much of it has the club contributed to that?

My guess (it's only a guess) is that we could have had this stitched up last year and a good pro-active club would have had it all completed before someone had the chance to get into his ear. It's certainly a missed opportunity for us in my opinion.

[GVGjr]

Great. Let's get some top draft picks, train and nurture some young talent for a few years and then watch them leave for more money elsewhere. Am feeling pretty cynical and uninspired by the footy landscape these days.

There won't be any new teams introduced to the competition for many years so this is the final windfall for players to earn 50 to 100% more than they are worth.

[LostDoggy]

There won't be any new teams introduced to the competition for many years so this is the final windfall for players to earn 50 to 100% more than they are worth.

What will free agency introduce then? Also it looks like AFLPA are winning the race for better player payments.
To me, Its all rosy for the players.

[AndrewP6]

Tweet from Emma Q

I completely understand why Cal Ward is going yet it makes me really sad. Why? Kids leaving clubs that they love for crazy money I guess

I'd get that... if he was a kid.
I don't believe for second he loves the club. Just 'a' club that offers the most money. Sickening.

[AndrewP6]

Nathan Brown said something interesting on the footy show on Sunday. He said Callan Ward is known as cement head, perhaps he realises with his limited intellectual ability he needs to make more out of his time in football than other players, due to having less chance to build a successful post-football career.

A fair slap, but perhaps goes toward explaining why most players turned down the GWS money and he didn't.

Maybe it's just that he's a money-grabbing, disingenuous mercenary - and others aren't.

[AndrewP6]

Did he happen to say what it was about then?

It wasn't about the money? Then what was it about?

Sure did... went something like this: "Er,um, ah..."

[Topdog]

My guess (it's only a guess) is that we could have had this stitched up last year and a good pro-active club would have had it all completed before someone had the chance to get into his ear. It's certainly a missed opportunity for us in my opinion.

To be fair I don't think his manager is that stupid. Every manager wanted their player to be out of contract in 2010/11/12.

Only way to ensure you get paid overs. Would actually be a very crap manager if he didn't.

[Hotdog60]

The Ball is now in Wally's court, Ward who?

I hope we win a GF within the next 4 years and we knock GWS out of it leading up to it.

[FrediKanoute]

This is the thing. I'm very disappointed in Wards decision and whilst it's understandable I don't think he has made the right decision and the timing of it is far from ideal. You simply can't put a price on the adulation he would have received if he had chosen to stay.

That being said, why did he make that decision and how much of it has the club contributed to that?

My guess (it's only a guess) is that we could have had this stitched up last year and a good pro-active club would have had it all completed before someone had the chance to get into his ear. It's certainly a missed opportunity for us in my opinion.

If we had the chance to sign him up last year, then knowing what we did re GWS, then it is a ,monumental !!!!!!! up