4 replies to this topic

[Caveman]

Another thrashing when there still remained the slight possibility of a finals appearance.

Now there is no chance, 2007 is over for us we cant make the finals and thus we cant win the flag -. Yes we want to win that final game- what is the point of playing, if you don't go out there to win? Why go on the paddock at all ?

There will be finger pointing- certain players will cop it individually, or bagged as group: ie those in the Peter Jackson advertisement.

Eade will get a bit of a roasting, so will Scott Clayton even other football department staff like Leon Cameron and Wayne Campbell.

Yet one bloke will NOT be subject to scrutiny. Now he isn't a player, the coach or any of the support staff.

That bloke is David Smorgon.

Not what has that to with him? Well it is time for some long needed balance.

David Smorgon is the President of the Club- and has been for 11 SEASONS. Thats right 11 seasons, NOT 3 seasons NOT 5 seasons, NOT 7 seasons, NOT 9 seasons BUT ELEVEN!

Smorgon has hardly ever been criticised by the media. The only journalist to offer a different view was the Footscray supporter Ross Brundrett of the Herald Sun. He is seemingly the only journalist that has ever dared to NOT look at Smorgon through rose coloured glasses. That was firstly back in 1996 and then again in 2004 when the Rohde removal was all the news. Some former players have publicly queried Smorgon's decisions- Jack Collins and Doug Hawkins are examples- for different reasons- but those two are not in the mainstream media, they are ex club champions who have been aggrieved with the club.


The fact that in David Smorgon's tenure ALL other clubs have equalled or gone beyond the highest position that the Western Bulldogs have in that time. David Smorgon is the longest serving President- Costa and McGuire took over at the end of 1998, two years after Smorgon came to power at the end of 1996.

Only Fremantle, Geelong, Hawthorn and Richmond haven't bettered the highest point that the Western Bulldogs have in that time. It is also highly likely that one or maybe both of the Geelong and Hawthorn combination will make the Grand Final. Maybe one of those two will win the flag this year?

Why single out Smorgon other than to be different because no one else is?

Because of balance and perspective. When a big win occurs - like the Collingwood final last year Smorgon is seen as a hero. He takes the glory, or it is foisted upon him. It is all due to him. Leaving the Western Oval to play at Carlton's ground, dumping Footscray for the name Western Bulldogs- these great decisions by Smorgon- that is why we do so well.

Yet when disasters happen and there have been more of them than great triumphs in his 11 seasons- it is NEVER his fault. He is NEVER to blame. The sickening 2003 and 2004 seasons were the fault of the 'bargain basement' coach Peter Rohde- who was appointed by David Smorgon! Rodney Eade was appointed by David Smorgon- that was a great masterstroke it was excellent leadership to get Eade. Yet he could have got him when Wallace departed at the end of 2002, but no we went with the unfortunate Peter Rohde. Smorgon has never been lambasted for appointing Rohde.

Someone will produce the Whitten Oval development as another great David Smorgon moment. Well two things here.

The ground has been laying there dormant for 10 seasons since we moved in with Carlton for the 1997 season. It is great to see it upgraded and not visited by Whelan the Wrecker, unlike North Melbourne's home ground, yet after 10 years it is about time something was done with it. Also North Melbourne are playing in the finals this season with a ground that has no landmarks left, excepting the remants of its ground level social club.

Secondly if we are so enthralled about the Whitten Oval finally being renovated and believe it is the bees knees- then that explains to the entire football world why we have played in just 2 Grand Finals since 1924. That is the ultimate example of the acceptance of mediocrity- the ground that we train at is being renovated- we are NOT going to be playing games there again, just training there. The social club will be improved which is fine- long overdue- but that upgrade to the facilities is not something that is worthy of such over the top adulation.

David Smorgon has stayed for the 11 years. That has been a strong commitment- no one can dispute that, he has stayed for a long journey. However it doesn't mean that we owe someone a lifetime of complete unquestioning gratitude nor does it mean that we must accept everything that they stand for as totally right. Peter Gordon left the Footscray Presidency after 7 seasons- when all is considered he did a fantastic job for the club and don't forget that his entire Presidency was in the reign of Ross Oakley- but it was deemed throughout 1996, that he had ran his race-rightly or wrongly. David Smorgon's didn't have to battle with Oakley- Wayne Jackson and now Andrew Demetriou have been the head honchos that he has had to contend with. They had a different outlook to what Ross Oakley did.

We need no stones to be left unturned when the final siren sounds next weekend. The search for reasons or causes of why this season of promise didn't go beyond being just a promise. However it needs to apply to everyone. No exemptions and that means the President too.

[Lisbon]

I think you're right about the need to "leave no stone unturned". I may be a few thousand miles away, but it always seemed to me that Footscray had the potential to at least make the finals and I expected it to happen. Someone has to explain why things suddenly fell apart and especially why so many points were dropped against teams that could, maybe should, have been beaten (Melbourne, for one). When teams fail to get results a lot of people usually share the blame - players, coaches and - yes - the board and especially the club president. Turning a blind eye won't help, it usually makes things worse.

[Caveman]

Yes that is right- everyone needs to be scrutinised. Geelong did it and now they are on top of the ladder and really should win the Premiership. This is surely their year.

I don't know of many other organisations where the man at the top of the tree is never held accountable other than the Western Bulldogs Football Club. The President of Richmond Gary March has only been in charge for two seasons. He will cop some flak if they 'win' the dreaded wooden spoon again in 2008 for the second year running. Yet David Smorgon has been here for 11 seasons. When we win any game he is the flavour of the month again- the "What a great job he has done for the Bulldogs" mantra will be trotted out again and again- yet after each failure he is never taken to task. The mainstream media idolise him- thank goodness for supporter websites- the only place where you may get some balance- most football journalists don't want to rock the boat- they appear to always favour the Status Quo.

David Smorgon can't kick goals or take screamers on the field- but the kudus he receives is disproportionate to what the Western Bulldogs has achieved in his 11 seasons in control. The club has not won anything in that time, nor even made a Grand Final in that time(not even the two bit pre-season NAB Cup) Every other club has made a Grand Final of either as their highest point except for Fremantle(Richmond played in the pre-season Grand Final losing to Port Power, Geelong and Hawthorn have won the pre-season trophy) All the others have won the Premiership or been runners- up from 1997.

There is always next year- we have been saying that for many years now though.

[Amelia Jane]

We definately need a review like Geelong had last year. That includes everyone including the president to the players. I also agree that the players in the Peter Jackson advert have been singled out unfairly. We have had many players out of form this year. I wish David Smorgon would change our name back to Footscray. I want to sing sons of the scray not sons of the west. I always feel like I am singing about either West Coast Eagles or some Hollywood Western fictional outlaws.

[Caveman]

We definately need a review like Geelong had last year. That includes everyone including the president to the players. I also agree that the players in the Peter Jackson advert have been singled out unfairly. We have had many players out of form this year. I wish David Smorgon would change our name back to Footscray. I want to sing sons of the scray not sons of the west. I always feel like I am singing about either West Coast Eagles or some Hollywood Western fictional outlaws.

I believe it is pointless wishing for David Smorgon to change our name and jumper back. It won't happen under him. The abiding memory everyone will have of David Smorgon was that of moving us out of the Whitten Oval for Optus Oval, the home ground of the Carlton Football Club the team where 90% of his relatives support. They were David Smorgon's first moves, to get us away from Footscray, both the suburb Footscray and the name Footscray.

Because what else will his reign be remembered for? The Premierships, the Grand Final appearances? The pre-season competition Premierships? The pre-season Grand Final appearances? Well it can't be any of them can it?

So what do you want more- David Smorgon to continue on and add to his 11 years as the supremo and we keep wearing the kindergarten smock like jumper with the yawning cat on the front and the name Western Bulldogs? Or the situation were someone else becomes President who will change the name back to Footscray and will give the supporters and the players a fair dinkum Footscray jumper to be proud of and also reinstate the deleted references to Footscray in the official club song?

I know of those two scenarios which I want. Why do we have to hope that David Smorgon wakes up and changes it back? Why is it up to him and him alone? Why do we have to appease David Smorgon and why does this require his approval? David Smorgon isn't the Messiah. The club is bigger than any individual- or well it should be, however not here at the Western Bulldogs-

The cult of the individual and the acceptance of mediocrity reign supreme.