Smorgon has a go at Browny / March blasts Smorgon and Dogs

[DallasCrane]

No matter how bad the Tiges go while Nathan Brown is here, it will never be as funny as Nathan Buckley leaving Brisbane for Collingwood to "play in a premiership"

[one-eyed]

Tiger boss bites back
Michael Gleeson | April 3, 2007
The Age

RICHMOND president Gary March yesterday launched a blistering attack on Western Bulldogs counterpart David Smorgon, condemning the Dogs as a charity case unable to win a premiership or make a profit in the past 50 years.

In a fiery defence of star Nathan Brown and coach Terry Wallace — both former Bulldogs — March savaged Smorgon.

"I was very very disappointed with what David said … it was such a personal and unprovoked attack on one of our players," March said.

"I think David should concentrate on getting his own house in order before having a crack at us: they haven't won a premiership for over 50 years and haven't made a profit in about the same time. I can't remember the last time they made a profit and they are having a crack at us and our players, I just won't cop that."

The war of words erupted after Smorgon declared on Sunday, before the match against Geelong, that his club was better off without All-Australian Brown, who he claimed had been a greedy, self-absorbed character who left to chase money.

Smorgon also ridiculed a column written by Wallace that praised the Bulldogs list, suggesting the Bulldog players had laughed at it and Wallace should "move on".

March said he was astonished by Smorgon's comments and was at a loss to understand what had inspired him. "David might say his club is better off without Nathan Brown, I can say our club is infinitely better off with Nathan Brown," March said.

"We made Nathan Brown a vice-captain of the club because of his exemplary behaviour and example to our younger players and his work in the community is a key part of that. I really do not understand where David was coming from in attacking Nathan or Terry.

"We are not going to stand by and let our players be attacked by another club president. It is not the position of a club president to be attacking opposition players — leave that to coaches and players to talk about opposition teams. If David wants to have a go at someone, have a go at me but leave our players alone.

"We didn't come out and have a go at Ryan Griffen when he had a go at our players, we let it go — he is a young player — but David should know better. It is time he got his own house in order."

Griffen last year attracted criticism for observing that Richmond had given up after half-time in its loss to the Dogs.

"As a club, we have been very supportive of the Bulldogs and the help they have been given by the AFL. But unlike them, we have not gone to the AFL in our history with our hand out," March said.

"We have got ourselves back up on our feet by ourselves, we made a million dollars last year and we will make another million this year. And we believe we are heading in the right direction on the field."

Richmond received $250,000 from the AFL's special distribution fund last year — the Bulldogs received $1.7 million — but March said this related to stadium deals and was not a charity payment.

The weekend's eruption is the latest in a spiteful history, which includes the nasty off-the-ball incident between Tony Liberatore and Matthew Knights and put then Richmond captain Wayne Campbell in an awkward position with regard to the players' code of silence on incriminating an opponent at the tribunal. (Campbell is now employed at Whitten Oval as a specialist coach.)

That tension was heightened at the end of 2003, when Brown quit to join Richmond, while Wallace sensationally left the Bulldogs a week before the end of the 2002 season.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/tiger-boss-bites-back/2007/04/02/1175366160434.html

[julzqld]

Yeah so go suck eggs Smorgon

[mightytiges]

Round 4 is a friday night home game for us against the Dogs. It'll be ugly on the field  but we'll at least get a decent crowd and $$$ with the presidents mouthing off .

The best way to shut Smorgon up Gary is to develop a Richmond side that wins games of football!

The media are waiting Tuesday's with Terry to see if Wallace returns fire. Let's hope Plough follows Miller's lead this morning and just ignores the baby tantrums of Smorgon.

[WilliamPowell]

 

 


 

[Fishfinger]

That should get them good and fired up. 

"You're a silly sausage Davey-boy" probably would have done the job.

[mightytiges]

That should get them good and fired up. 

"You're a silly sausage Davey-boy" probably would have done the job.

Smorgon will probably keep quiet for now and then come out all smug after they play us  .

[torch]

cocky smorgon is now ... think just because his team is in better shape then ours...

and that brown hasn't played in finals since leaving ...

good on March for giving same cheek back ...

they are getting cocky the doggy people ... should shut them up by beating them ...

but like that will happen with this game plan !

[mightytiges]

cocky smorgon is now ... think just because his team is in better shape then ours...

It helps when you are getting $1.5m a year in AFL charity to keep you afloat. How many players would they have lost otherwise?! Would they even be in existence?! I grew up in Footscray so have a soft spot for them but Smorgon spin makes Plough's look amateurish. Where's the digs at Dempsey, Templeton and Quinlan? They left too for similar reasons as Browny did.

[Hellenic Tiger]

Who are the Dogs? One flag in 82 years of top flight competition and about 20 supporters who all look like dogs. Well done on our pres in sticking up for our player and returning fire. All we need now is the players to read these comments and give them a steely resolve to beat the dogs in round 4 and Browny to kick 7 just to stick it in their faces. That should keep the dogs from barking.
We need an implementation of an us against them mentality as in the time of G Richmond and Tom Hafey. No more Mr Easybeat.

[one-eyed]

Not everyone at the Dogs hates Browny. Robert Murphy still best of mates.

In the seven years that have passed since I first walked into Pellegrini's, the friendships I started with those players have blossomed, and I like to think that football and Pellegrini's have played a huge part in that.

Browny and I are the only two who still catch up regularly for dinner at the restaurant, and it's still a highlight of the week. The fact that we don't play for the same club hasn't really changed anything.

Some football followers find it hard to believe that we're still good friends. It might appear that we are quite different, but I'm not so sure. When we became mates at the Bulldogs, it was through music and bands that we liked. It didn't have much to do with the game itself.

I'm sure as next Monday rolls around, Nathan will be sitting in his usual spot with a silly grin on his face and a tall story just waiting to be told. Players have been traded so many times that we are almost numb to the effect on players and clubs. I'm just glad our friendship has endured what is becoming a messy break-up.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/footballs-sacred-places/2007/04/04/1175366325803.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

[retygas]

Its just so good to see our club President stand up for two of our own. Smorgon has no rights to do what he did. A little bit of sour grapes maybe. I was so proud to be a Tiger member. And after this I'm just that more prouded to be a Tiger. Well done Mr. Gary March. I love people who stand up for themselves and our team . Next time big mouth Smorgon might think before he opens up his trap. 

[one-eyed]

Brown won't bite on Bulldogs
08 April 2007   Sunday Herald Sun
Jon Ralph

FORMER Bulldog Nathan Brown yesterday insisted he had no regrets about leaving Whitten Oval and rejected suggestions he was disloyal for leaving the club.

Western Bulldogs president David Smorgon said last week that Brown left the club only for money and accused him of failing to commit to the club's community programs.

Brown yesterday defended his decision and said he had been offered less than his previous contract, despite a year in which he kicked 56 goals.

"We finished on the bottom and even though I had very good year that year - I kicked 50 goals - I felt like I was stale, and I needed a change of environment," he said.

"I got a good offer from Richmond, the Bulldogs were offering less than what I was on, Richmond were offering a bit more, and it was a simple mathematical decision.

"We all talk about loyalty in footy but players giving loyalty to clubs doesn't often come back, when your time is up or not up."

He said on 3AW it was pointless looking back on the decision to shift clubs.

"The wheel turns and you don't have regrets," he said. "You make decisions, and you have got to stand by them. I am hell-bent on making Richmond a great club again.

"I don't look back on that (decision) at all.

"I am happy with the way they are going, and I have such good mates there, and it would be great to be playing in finals and in teams that are winning all the time, but I chose to come to Richmond and want to make my mark at the Richmond Football Club."

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21520402%255E19742,00.html

[one-eyed]

Tigers, Dogs aim to bury hatchet
Michael Gleeson | April 17, 2007
The Age

TERRY Wallace and Nathan Brown need to stop concerning themselves with the Western Bulldogs, and their former club should do the same, according to Richmond president Gary March.

March and his Bulldogs counterpart, David Smorgon, who have had an acrimonious relationship in recent times, found rare accord yesterday by agreeing both clubs needed to forget their recent past and move on.

"From our point of view there is no point in our ex-Bulldogs people still talking about the Bulldogs, and no point in the Bulldogs still talking about their former player and coach. Just as there is no point in me talking at Richmond about Brad Ottens," March said ahead of the clubs' clash on Friday night.

Smorgon said he agreed with March's sentiment, and that his club was more concerned with registering a win, regardless of the opposition, after two disappointing losses.

"Where we sit at the moment we could be playing anyone, we just need to win a game of footy and the fact it is the Bulldogs and there has been some history between us recently doesn't change anything or make us more determined to win, we need to win because we haven't won yet," March said.

"We could have been three-zip and we are zip-three, so we just need to win a game. I wanted to win the Carlton, Sydney and Collingwood games as much as I want to win the Bulldogs game.

"We just need to worry about our club and that is how it is for us and the Western Bulldogs are going to be desperate to win a game of footy."

Smorgon agreed: "It's always like that really, but this week you have two clubs that both really desperately need a win."

The tempestuous relationship between the two clubs deteriorated when Smorgon criticised Wallace and Brown, and said that his club was better off without All-Australian Brown, who he said had left chasing money and had been a selfish character at the club.

Smorgon also ridiculed a newspaper column written by Wallace that praised the Bulldogs list, suggesting Bulldogs players had laughed at it and Wallace should "move on".

While March now appears to agree with Smorgon over the need to move on, he was furious at the attack on his people at the time and had a sharp retort.

"David might say his club is better off without Nathan Brown, I can say our club is infinitely better off with Nathan Brown," he told The Age.

"I think David should concentrate on getting his own house in order before having a crack at us: they haven't won a premiership for over 50 years and haven't made a profit in about the same time.

"I can't remember the last time they made a profit and they are having a crack at us and our players, I just won't cop that."

The eruption was the latest in a spiteful history, which included the off-the-ball incident between Tony Liberatore and Matthew Knights and put then Richmond captain Wayne Campbell in an awkward position regarding the players' code of silence about incriminating an opponent at the tribunal. Campbell is now employed at Whitten Oval as a specialist coach.

That tension was heightened at the end of 2003, when Brown quit to join Richmond, while Wallace sensationally left the Bulldogs a week before the end of the 2002 season.

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/tigers-dogs-aim-to-bury-hatchet/2007/04/16/1176696761822.html

[mightytiges]

Someone forgot to tell Miller last night lol