RFC Memorable Moments #5: "Every Dog Has Its Day"

[one-eyed]

Code breaker - Campbell's evidence outs Libba
afl.com.au
Thursday, April 12, 2001

RICHMOND captain Wayne Campbell last night broke new ground in AFL player ranks by helping to out Tony Liberatore for five weeks.

Campbell, terse and unwavering, told the AFL Tribunal he saw the Western Bulldogs player hit teammate Matthew Knights' head.

It was damning evidence against 35-year-old Liberatore, who was found guilty of striking Knights.

In a move that will be applauded by the AFL and fair-minded football fans, Campbell told AFL investigations officer Rick Lewis he saw the fiery incident at the MCG on Saturday from 20m away.

''He swung his right arm and contacted Matthew to the head and Matthew went to the ground,'' he said.

Campbell agreed it was a round-arm, but couldn't say if it was a coathanger.

''I'm not sure what a coathanger is,'' he said.

Campbell, appointed Tigers' captain at the start of the season, stood firm as Liberatore's advocate Bert Gaudion questioned his version of events.

Gaudion: ''I suggest to you it was his left arm.''

Campbell: ''You can make that suggestion but you would be wrong.''

Gaudion continued to probe Campbell, who hit back verbally.

''Are you saying I'm lying?'' he said.

And then: ''If I didn't see it, I'd tell you I didn't see it, but I did see it.''

Although Campbell is not the first player to break the players' code of silence on such matters -- Hawk David Polkinghorne did it against Carlton's Wayne Johnston in 1982 -- few have done so under such a bright media spotlight as Campbell.

It's understood he debated, with friends and club staff, whether to tell his version of the events, but in the end the decision was clearly an easy one. He led Knights out of last night's hearing, but would not talk to the media.

[one-eyed]

Campbell explains why he came clean
Thursday, April 12, 2001
afl.com.au

RICHMOND captain Wayne Campbell says he decided to tell the truth about the Tony Liberatore incident because he could make a stand for footy.

Immediately after last Saturday's controversial match against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG, Campbell denied seeing who'd struck his teammate Matthew Knights behind play.

But after careful consideration and meetings with team officials, it was decided he should tell all if questioned by the AFL.

Liberatore was yesterday suspended for five matches for striking after Campbell told the tribunal he saw the Bulldogs rover swing his right arm and make contact with Knights' head.

Liberatore maintains he raised his arm in self defence as Knights ran at him.

[one-eyed]

Dogs picked on stars
By Michael Gleeson
Herald-Sun
Saturday, April 14, 2001

THE Western Bulldogs used to put one opposition player ``in the gun`` to receive extra mental and physical attack in every match.

But Terry Wallace was forced to abandon the practice a year ago after his players continued to go too far.

Wallace said yesterday the club would nominate an opponent player a week before the game to be in the gun.

The Bulldogs` 1998 handbook, obtained by the Herald Sun, defined ``in the gun`` as ``an opposition player who has been selected prior to the game for physical and mental pressure from every member of our team``.

The Bulldogs` coach has denied Richmond`s Matthew Knights was put in the gun before last week`s clash and said the club had dropped the practice 12 months ago.

``No, it does not still apply,`` he said.

``You won`t know what a side will or won`t do on a given day, but going back a couple of seasons ago when we had those issues come up, the Gardiner one and a couple of those come up where we reckon a few of our guys had sort of stepped over the line with it.

``I don`t reckon there`s anything wrong with in the gun, if you read the definition.

``I think most clubs would have that in place. They mightn`t have a specific name for it or whatever.

``That`s the name we`ve had for it, but we reckon that a few of our boys just stepped over the line with it so we took it out about 12 months ago.

``We would say, like every other side, that `this bloke`s the key to the side, we have to give him specialised attention` and that sort of stuff, but not rough him up. We just don`t go down that path.

``If we were going to go down that path we would still have in the gun in place.`` A former Bulldog official contacted the Herald Sun with the game book, upset at the club`s denials about treatment of key opponents.

Many clubs admit to selecting a target from opposition clubs for special attention.

On Talking Footy this week Hawthorn coach Peter Schwab admitted he would nominate one vulnerable or key opponent most weeks.

Every one of his players would then have to try to apply extra physical pressure on that player where possible.

The Bulldogs players physically took on young West Coast ruckman Michael Gardiner in the last game at Whitten Oval in 1997.

Dogs Steve Kretiuk, Craig Ellis and Daniel Southern were fined after being found guilty of ``threatening and aggressive behaviour``.

The trio bumped Gardiner before the first bounce.

In 1998, Paul Dimattina, Jose Romero and Tony Liberatore employed a similar tactic at the opening bounce, charging at Bomber skipper James Hird.

Last year Wallace was forced to admit the ``Dirty Dogs`` image of the club needed to be addressed after several incidents, including the sledging charges against Liberatore and Nathan Brown.

The players were both found guilty and fined for sledging West Coast`s Fraser Gehrig with a sexual slur.

[one-eyed]

The following week the Club Presidents got into the act and the feud between the two clubs just exploded off-field

Tigers boss accuses Libba or king-hitting Knights
By Paul Gough
Saturday, April 14, 2001.
afl.com.au

Richmond president Clinton Casey today accused Western Bulldogs rover Tony Liberatore of ''king-hitting'' Matthew Knights during last week's MCG clash, re-igniting the off-field war of words between the two AFL clubs.

Casey, speaking at the official luncheon before today's home match against Brisbane, was livid that Liberatore said he was acting in self-defence at this week's tribunal hearing, when he pleaded guilty to striking Knights and received a five-match suspension.

The incident happened well behind play and was not captured on video.

While Liberatore pleaded self-defence, Richmond skipper Wayne Campbell told the tribunal he saw the Bulldog rover deliberately strike Knights but Casey was furious today that Campbell's word has been bought into question as a result of the two contrasting testimonies given to the tribunal.

``The captain of our club has been painted the villain in this episode,'' he said.

``As president of the club, I find this totally unacceptable.

``Here are some facts that have been forgotten and fact one is Matthew Knights was king hit by Tony Liberatore, right in the middle of the MCG, when he wasn't looking and when the ball was about 100 metres off the ball.''

``Fact two was our captain Wayne Campbell witnessed the entire event and at the AFL tribunal he told the truth about Tony Liberatore's treatment of Knights.''

However, Casey said the Bulldogs called a press conference the day before the tribunal hearing, in which Liberatore said he struck Knights' in self-defence, in a bid to discredit Campbell, knowing what his evidence to the tribunal was going to be.

``The press conference on Monday was called simply to invent the self-defence alibi for Tony Liberatore at the tribunal,'' he said.

Casey said in doing so the Bulldogs showed they condoned Liberatore's actions.

``Liberatore's actions have at the very least been condoned by his coach (Terry Wallace) and the Western Bulldogs president (David Smorgon).''

``The only reason you would expect a club to condone such conduct is if the players' actions were done on the club's instructions.''

Casey also called on the AFL to ensure all games were fully covered by cameras to ensure that no player was ever again placed under the pressure that Campbell experienced this week.

``After the treatment of Wayne Campbell this week, what do you think the response is going to be by a player the next time they see a similar incident?'

``It's obvious the solution is for complete camera coverage of all games and this is an issue squarely for Wayne Jackson and the AFL to solve.''

[one-eyed]

Smorgon and Casey refuel feud
By Roger Vaughan
Sunday, April 15, 2001

RELATIONS between AFL rivals the Western Bulldogs and Richmond continued to deteriorate here today as the Liberatore-Knights controversy became a battle between the club presidents.

Bulldogs president David Smorgon publicly savaged Tigers counterpart Clinton Casey again this morning following yesterday's stunning pre-game speeches by the two men.

Speaking on Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show, Smorgon also called on the AFL to discipline Casey and claimed he had the backing of other presidents.

Casey returned to his family holiday in Queensland this morning after two nights here, saying he had received legal advice before making yesterday's speech and stood by his comments.

Smorgon belittled Casey's attempt to contact him last night during the Bulldogs' loss to Collingwood at Colonial Stadium.

'I just wonder whether Clinton knew the Bulldogs were playing last night, because it was a (phone) message,' Smorgon told Nine.

'It was quite an amazing message ... he said 'look, it's your call, David, as far as we're concerned we're moving on and putting this behind us.

''If you want to re-open it, do so, but it's your call'.'

Smorgon again described comments in Casey's speech yesterday as 'offensive, they were defamatory' and said it would probably be the end of the week before the club received legal advice about the matter.

When asked if there was any chance of discussing the controversy privately with Casey, Smorgon tersely replied 'I wouldn't think so'.

The week-long controversy over the Tony Liberatore-Matthew Knights incident took another twist yesterday, when Casey spoke before his side's match against Brisbane at the MCG.

Casey accused Liberatore, the Bulldogs' rover, of 'king-hitting' Knights 100m off the ball in last weekend's match.

The Tigers president said Liberatore's hit, which earnt him a five-week ban, had been 'at the very least' condoned by Smorgon and coach Terry Wallace.

Smorgon retaliated a few hours later in his speech before the Collingwood game, describing Casey's comments as 'unprovoked, offensive and unprecedented.'

Smorgon said today Casey owed the football public an explanation of why he re-opened an issue that the Bulldogs president said was 'dead and buried' after the tribunal verdict.

He also denied it was a battle between the egos of two club presidents.

'This is not driven by ego whatsoever ... this is about the integrity, the reputation of my football club on behalf of our members and all the fans who follow the Bulldogs,' he said.

'He went beyond flying the flag, he went to attack our flag, attack our integrity, our honesty - I'm not going to cop that on behalf of our members.'

Casey was on holiday throughout last week's events, returning for yesterday's game.

Before flying out again today, he was clearly unconcerned by Smorgon's comments about possible legal action.

'I don't think there's anything I've said that would be construed as defamatory or in a legal sense is any problem,' Casey said.

Casey also said he had spoken to Smorgon by telephone last Monday about the matter, but the Bulldogs president had decided on his own course of action.

Smorgon wants the AFL to pull Casey into line, but the league was not commenting today.

'The AFL have a responsibility to get involved - I believe he is in breach of other rules and regulations within the AFL,' he said.

'I've had phone calls from other presidents, saying it's outrageous.

'I'm not sure of the particular rule, I just think it's unbecoming of presidents to behave like this.'

AFL chief Wayne Jackson and Smorgon apparently exchanged telephone messages last night over Casey's speech.

Wallace said he had not heard Casey's speech.

But he added it was ludicrous to suggest any coach would send a player out to deliberately take out an opponent and added he was offended and demeaned by any such allegation.

[one-eyed]

Casey to offer Smorgon olive branch
By Daryl Timms
Herald-Sun
Tuesday, April 17, 2001

RICHMOND president Clinton Casey will today phone his Western Bulldog counterpart David Smorgon in a bid to defuse the explosive row between the two clubs.

Casey launched an extraordinary tirade at the weekend at Bulldog tagger Tony Liberatore, who was suspended for five matches after pleading guilty to striking Matthew Knights.

The Tiger boss used his president's luncheon on Saturday to criticise Liberatore, who struck Knights in an off-the-ball incident in Round 2.

Smorgon claims that Casey's comments, which he also made in radio interviews, defamed him, Liberatore and coach Terry Wallace.

He has asked the league to take appropriate action against Casey for conduct unbecoming and bringing the game into disrepute.

But an unrepentant Casey said last night Smorgon should get off his soap box.

Casey said he had phoned Smorgon the Monday after the match and told him the Tigers would lodge a formal complaint unless Liberatore apologised to Knights and pleaded guilty to striking him.

''I told David Smorgon the incident was ugly and our football department, our coaches and the players wanted to take a stand against it,'' he said.

''Our club would be telling the truth and I told him that his player needed to be counselled. I thought we had agreed on the course of action and that Richmond would not say anything and would not go on the front foot.''

Casey said he had been staggered when the Bulldogs and Smorgon called a press conference on the Monday, at which Liberatore claimed he was acting in self-defence, but then pleaded guilty at the tribunal. ''David is running around talking to the AFL, talking on television and talking to the media, but why doesn't he come and talk to me?'' Casey said. ''I tried to help him in the first place. The sooner we get it sorted out, the better.''

Casey said he would phone Smorgon again today in a bid to resolve the issue.

The AFL will today study a transcript of Casey's pre-match speech before ruling whether he has breached league rules.

AFL chief executive Wayne Jackson confirmed yesterday that Smorgon had spoken to him about Casey. ''I had a long conversation with David Smorgon, and we will follow it up when we've got the actual facts as to what was claimed to have been said. We want to get the actual transcript.''

Jackson said yesterday he had not spoken to Casey.

[one-eyed]

Wallace denies the incident was planned

There was no plan to attack Matty - Wallace
By Terry Wallace
Herald-Sun
Wednesday, April 18, 2001

LEGENDARY figure John Kennedy wandered into the cramped away rooms at the then Western Oval as special guest. We braced ourselves for the mother of all pre-match speeches.

It was 1984. Leigh Matthews was about to play his 300th. It doesn't get much bigger. Kennedy erupted and let us know all about it.

I had so much admiration for Leigh as a player I didn't want to let him down on what was his big day. Steam was coming out of my ears as I burst through the Hawthorn banner.

We had to make a stand early in the game. We had to show we were up to the challenge.

Early in the first quarter, I went for a ball on the social club flank and was confronted by a steam train named Jim Edmond coming in the opposite direction.

Within a split second I had raised my arm higher than normal and got him high with a forearm.

I was immediately reported. I remember the instant feeling of disappointment. The sickness in the guts.

A couple of days later, I fronted the tribunal. Unfortunately, I was found guilty.

But my clean record was a factor in me copping a severe reprimand. I was told never to return. I took in the warning and made sure I adhered to it.

The game of professional football is fast and the one major area of difference between AFL footy and that played in the parks is the speed and reaction time of all individuals.

Decisions must be made in microseconds and most of these are spontaneous reactions to your current environment.

Players weekly make correct and incorrect decisions throughout a game.

I believe Tony Liberatore's incident with Matthew Knights last week was also spontaneous. It was not pre-meditated.

Like most people who were there on that particular afternoon I also did not see the incident so can only deal with what I have been told by others.

As the coach of the Western Bulldogs I accept many responsibilities and certainly believe it is my duty to see the team perform to the best of its ability week in, week out.

As well as this, I take a real responsibility to try and improve my group of players as individuals both on and off the ground.

I am terribly disappointed when players step over the boundaries of what is acceptable behaviour either on or off the field.

What has stunned me in the last week is the accusation that Knights' name was circled in red on our board and that he had been made a target before the game.

Football has been my life for 24 years and even further back, growing up playing the game, I was taught always to be a ball player.

For me to then condone actions of a premeditated nature goes against everything I have learned.

And let's not forget one very important factor -- there were meant to be video cameras working and operational at the MCG on that day.

Each and every football club were told only two days previously that the dispute between Channel Seven and the AFL had come to a conclusion and that video cameras would be showing all behind the goal shots of the entire ground.

Why would any club with that knowledge then orchestrate someone to be hit off the ball knowing full well that cameras would pick up everything that took place?

In this case the only reason that it did not happen was that there was some breakdown in the operation of the cameras involved.

I just wish that breakdown had not happened. If it was captured on video, everyone would have known where they stood.

We understand there will be spontaneous reactions on the football ground on a regular basis and that players will be rubbed out for these actions.

Our club accepted the tribunal's decision and has tried to get on with the game.

I love the game of AFL football, but I enjoy it for its fast pace, high marking, great athletics and wonderful ball skills.

What sometimes concerns me is how politics grows each and every year within our game.

Everyone is working for an angle or an agenda as the money increases in the game.

I think I sometimes come from an unrealistic viewpoint of how I would like my football to be, but I want the back pages to be filled with the deeds of those on the ground rather than what happens off the field.

I just hope some time soon we can get back on with the game.

[one-eyed]

Outbursts cost Frawley
By Michael Gleeson
Herald-Sun
Thursday, April 19, 2001

RICHMOND coach Danny Frawley has been hit with a $6000 fine for his angry outbursts following Matthew Knights' bloody clash with Bulldog Tony Liberatore.

The AFL yesterday fined Frawley $3000 and suspended another $3000.

Frawley was fined $2000 for marching Knights towards the umpires at quarter-time and pointing to the former captain's bandaged head.

He was fined $1000 for his comments at the post-game conference, when he warned there would be payback for the Bulldogs for the behind-play clash between Liberatore and Knights.

An extra $3000 fine on both charges was suspended.

AFL football operations manager Andrew Demetriou last week sent Frawley a please-explain letter over his conduct. Demetriou decided the fines.

A public apology for his behaviour last week was unable to save Frawley.

Frawley's $6000 fine follows the $7500 fine imposed by the tribunal last year on Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy for misconduct.

Sheedy pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening and aggressive manner towards West Coast's Mitchell White at halftime in a match at Colonial Stadium.

He was charged after making several provocative gestures to White, including a slit-throat motion, thumping his fist into his palm and a two-fingered salute.

[one-eyed]

Twelve days after the incident the fires were still esculating when the Doggies brought the lawyers into the feud.

Bulldogs hit Casey with legal letter
By Michael Gleeson And Mark Stevens
Herald-Sun
Thursday, April 19, 2001

THE smouldering fight that just won't go away is threatening to become a bushfire.

Richmond president Clinton Casey was yesterday hit with a legal letter from the Bulldogs.

The letter outlined the Bulldogs' anger at comments made by Casey and was accompanied by a full-page retraction and apology for Casey to sign.

Casey said he was surprised to receive the letter because he said both sides agreed to outline their grievances in the aftermath of the Tony Liberatore-Matthew Knights clash.

He was expecting personal correspondence from the Bulldogs, but instead received a letter from a major Melbourne law firm.

Smorgon last night said Casey should not have been surprised by the letter.

''I told Clinton yesterday that we were working with our lawyers and that we would send a letter . . . that's what happened,'' Smorgon said.

''I don't know what he'd be expecting or not expecting.

''He was obviously well aware both publicly and privately that I've been dealing with our lawyers and I would've thought he would've been expecting a legal letter.''

Smorgon said he could not disclose the Bulldogs' demands because it was a legal matter.

''I can assure you we are trying to resolve this as quickly as possible,'' Smorgon said.

Casey said the discussion with Smorgon was intended to avoid getting lawyers involved and was an in-house means of resolving the dispute.

''The response has come from lawyers which was surprising and basically now I will have to consult our lawyers to draft a response instead of responding myself in a personal letter,'' he said.

The dispute, which started soon after the Liberatore-Knights incident, was inflamed last Saturday when Casey launched a stinging attack on the Bulldogs.

[one-eyed]

Dogs put legal action on hold
By STEPHEN RIELLY
The Age
Friday, April 20, 2001.

The prospect of a courtroom finale to the overheated dispute between Richmond and the Western Bulldogs receded yesterday when presidents Clinton Casey and David Smorgon agreed to first explore less costly ways of settling the spat.

But the potential for legal action has not been eliminated altogether, with the Bulldogs reserving their right to sue Casey for defamation unless he apologises for comments he made about Tony Liberatore and the club last weekend.

Similarly, Casey said he would not be offering an apology or ``clarification'' to the Bulldogs that did not reflect the intent of his controversial presidential speech of last Saturday.

``We both want it to end but we've both got a position to defend and protect as well,'' Casey said last night. ``It will be a matter of regret if it ends up in court but if that's the case, so be it. If it (what the Bulldogs want) is a clarification, and it is what I meant, then I will absolutely offer that to them. But if it's a clarification and it's not what I meant then absolutely not.''

The two presidents spoke for almost an hour on Wednesday night and Casey forwarded to Smorgon yesterday an explanation of his and Richmond's position. He is now awaiting Smorgon's response.

Their discussion was prompted by the threat issued by the Bulldogs on Wednesday to launch a defamation action against Casey unless he offered an apology that was acceptable to Liberatore and the club. Smorgon, Liberatore and Bulldogs coach Terry Wallace and chief executive Mark Patterson were signatories to the proposed action.

Casey incensed the Bulldogs with an attack on their conduct in the days leading up to and after the five-match suspension Liberatore received for striking Tiger Matthew Knights in the opening minutes of the clubs' round two encounter.

The Tigers remain angry that their captain Wayne Campbell was later criticised for giving unusually frank and damning evidence against Liberatore during his AFL tribunal hearing. Among other things, Casey claimed that the Bulldogs condoned Liberatore's action and that the 1990 Brownlow Medallist had a history of involvement in ``cowardly and ugly incidents.''

Casey said yesterday that he was surprised the matter had escalated to the point of lawyers becoming involved and has threatened to break off the new attempt to resolve the dispute if the correspondence between the clubs continues to be made through legal channels.

``I said to David that when we start dealing through lawyers I will no longer deal with you independently, on a personal basis,'' Casey said.

``Now, if it can't be resolved between us then we'll put the gloves on and let the umpire decide but I'm hopeful that we're able to work out what's important and resolve it.''

Liberatore is unlikely to be the subject of another investigation despite comments made by Fremantle rover Peter Bell in relation to an alleged incident two seasons ago.

Bell revealed in an interview last Friday that Liberatore had made a disparaging remark about his parentage before a match in Melbourne. Bell, who was adopted, was playing for the Kangaroos at the time.

An AFL spokesman said yesterday that the transcript of Bell's interview had been studied but that without a complaint from Bell the matter was almost certain to be closed.

Bell has since said that he did not take any great offence at the remark and that he does not wish to pursue the matter.

[one-eyed]

Tigers, Dogs set for court
The Age
By KAREN LYON and LEN JOHNSON
Saturday, April 21, 2001.

A defiant Richmond president Clinton Casey has refused to apologise to the Western Bulldogs in their continuing war of words over the Tony Liberatore affair, virtually consigning the two clubs to an expensive battle in the courts.

Last night, Casey said he was disappointed the affair would end in court after a week of meetings between the clubs failed to end the matter.

Western Bulldogs president David Smorgon, chief executive Mark Patterson, coach Terry Wallace and Tony Liberatore will sue Richmond and Casey for defamation. A statement of claim was being drawn up yesterday and writs will be served on Monday.

Bulldogs president Smorgon had given Casey until 2pm yesterday to apologise for claiming that Liberatore had deliberately king-hit Matthew Knights in the match between the clubs on April 7 and that his actions had been condoned by both Smorgon and coach Wallace. A form of apology acceptable to the Bulldogs was sent to Richmond and Casey yesterday morning, but no reply was received.

Casey made the comments in his luncheon speech before last Saturday's match between Richmond and Brisbane.

Smorgon responded by comparing Casey's remarks to those of a ``shock jock'' radio announcer resorting to sensationalism to boost ratings.

``It's well known that we'd set a deadline,'' Smorgon said, ``and that has passed. It has been very clear, publicly and privately, what is required to put this matter to finality. It hasn't happened and we are pursuing the alternative course.''

Casey said: ``I have been talking to David over the last week. I left it with him yesterday. I sent him a statement, in terms of a compromise and I thought we could work on it. He didn't agree with it and he wanted to change it.''

Instead of a compromised statement, Casey came out with his own ultimatum for the Bulldogs' administration.

``If the Western Bulldogs are prepared to state publicly and unreservedly that it did not and does not condone the actions of its player Tony Liberatore in striking Matthew Knights, then the Richmond Football Club and myself will withdraw unreservedly any suggestion that the Western Bulldogs or its officials have condoned Liberatore's actions,'' Casey said.

He called a meeting of the Richmond board yesterday as it appeared litigation could not be avoided.

``In regards to our players and the support of our players, support of the members and relation to this incident on the field, there is absolutely no grounds for an apology at all,'' Casey said.

``I have given (Smorgon) a resolution today and if he takes the resolution I will unreservedly withdraw it. That is our position and we won't be withdrawing from that position. I would have liked to think we could have got to that position through consultation.''

Casey said he was more than prepared to match the Bulldogs in court.

Smorgon said the Bulldogs were conscious of the AFL view that the two clubs settle the matter without resorting to the courts, but he had made it clear all along that there were ``things we're not going to cop''.

[one-eyed]

Casey Smorgon end feud
The Age
Monday, April 23, 2001

Richmond AFL president CLINTON CASEY has withdrawn his claims that his Western Bulldogs counterpart DAVID SMORGON and coach TERRY WALLACE condoned TONY LIBERATORE'S controversial strike on Tigers veteran MATTHEW KNIGHTS.

The week-long threat of legal action from SMORGON ended when he accepted CASEY'S apology in a joint statement released by the clubs tonight.

In the statement, CASEY says his remarks were wrong and he apologises.

LIBERATORE received a five match ban for hitting KNIGHTS in back play in the April 7 Round 2 match at the MCG.

Bulldogs chief executive MARK PATTERSON also apologised to Richmond captain WAYNE CAMPBELL for questioning the credibility of his evidence at the tribunal.

Official joint statement from Casey and Smorgon

TIGERS, BULLDOGS JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

The presidents of the Richmond and Western Bulldogs Football Clubs today issued the following statements:

Mr Clinton Casey, President of the Richmond Football Club said: "Considerable discussion has taken place regarding my lunchtime address on Saturday, 14th April 2001, prior to the Richmond-Brisbane Lions game, on the incident involving Matthew Knights and Tony Liberatore.

My address was made in response to earlier comments, which I saw as challenging the integrity and credibility of our players including the Richmond captain, Wayne Campbell.

I recognise that remarks made in my address, which suggested or inferred that the Western Bulldogs Football Club, and in particular its president David Smorgon and its coach Terry Wallace, suggesting they condone or support in any way unsportsmanlike behaviour on the football field, were incorrect. I withdraw and apologise for those remarks.

It was not my intention for the remarks to be taken in this way, rather I was intending to protect the interests of my players and the club.

Clearly, both clubs accept the tribunal's decision, but have differing views regarding the Knights/Liberatore incident and cannot agree on the circumstances surrounding the issue."

Mr David Smorgon, President of the Western Bulldogs Football Club responded by saying: "On behalf of the Western Bulldogs Football Club, Terry Wallace and I accept Clinton's statement.

Mark Patterson, CEO of the Western Bulldogs, apologises to Richmond captain Wayne Campbell for remarks which may have reflected adversely on Wayne's credibility as a witness."

Both presidents and their respective clubs agree that this matter is behind them and that there will be no further comments.

David Smorgon                           Clinton Casey

President                                   President

Western Bulldogs Football Club        Richmond Football Club

[cub]

On Wednesday Night, April 11, 2001, the AFL Tribunal handed down a 5 week suspension to Liberatore as well as melee fines to 12 players from both clubs

The Tribunal verdicts
The Age
Thursday, April 12, 2001.

Tony Liberatore (W Bulldogs) for striking Matthew Knights (Rich) 5 matches

MELEE CHARGES

Wayne Campbell (Rich) Fined $3000
Steven Sziller (Rich) Fined $3000
Matthew Knights (Rich) Fined $2000
Matthew Rogers (Rich) Fined $2000
Matthew Richardson (Rich) Fined $2000
Brad Ottens (Rich) Fined $2000
Ben Holland (Rich) Fined $2000
Nathan Brown (W Bulldogs) Fined $3500 One of the worst offenders by the looks of it, effin dog 
Craig Ellis (W Bulldogs) Fined $3000
Luke Darcy (W Bulldogs) Fined $2500
Kingsley Hunter (W Bulldogs) Fined $2500
Matthew Robbins (W Bulldogs) Fined $2000
Rohan Smith (W Bulldogs) Cleared

[one-eyed]

With the off-field feud ended, all was in readiness for the return match - Round 17, July 27, 2001

Frawley's men have their night
The Age
By MELISSA RYAN
Saturday, July 28, 2001.

RICHMOND   4.4   8.9   11.10   15.12 (102)
BULLDOGS   5.3   7.5   12. 8    15.10 (100)

Goals:
Richmond: B Ottens 5 R Hilton 2 M Richardson 2 B Gale W Campbell L Cameron D Bourke D Gaspar G Tivendale.
Western Bulldogs: N Brown 4 C Grant 3 B Johnson 2 T Curley 2 L Darcy M S Cox M Croft T Liberatore.

Best:
Richmond: B Gale B Ottens W Campbell M Knights D Gaspar L Cameron.
Western Bulldogs: R Smith L Darcy S West T Curley C Ellis N Brown.

Injuries:
Richmond: C King (split webbing).
Western Bulldogs: nil.

Reports: nil.
Umpires: A Coates M McKenzie B Allen.
Official crowd: 43,595 at Colonial Stadium.

Payback was delivered. If the expectation had been for the blood and crush of war, Richmond delivered its brand of vengeance where it counted, emerging from a desperate arm-wrestle to scrape a two-point victory over the Western Bulldogs last night.

In a match marked by numerous comebacks, the Bulldogs faltered after leading by 16points nearly seven minutes into the last term and were unable to snatch back the lead in a desperate finish.

The last quarter was a wild ride as Brad Johnson and skipper Chris Grant extended their team's four-point lead at three-quarter-time with the opening two goals.

But Leon Cameron, Matthew Richardson and Brad Ottens worked to recapture the match for the Tigers. Richardson, who had struggled for most of the night, kicked two vital last-quarter goals. His first drew the Tigers within nine points before Cameron steamed through the centre corridor to deliver the next. When Richardson found himself tight on the boundary with a chance to put the Tigers ahead, his kicking did not fail.

After Nathan Brown missed for the Bulldogs, Ottens slammed through his fifth goal of the night, but the Bulldogs redoubled their attacking efforts. Johnson missed an easy shot 25 minutes into the term, but Brown booted his fourth goal with under two minutes to play.

In the last minute Bulldog fans screamed in vain for a free kick for a high tackle on Brown in front of goal, but the Tigers held on for a win vital for its top-four hopes.

The Bulldogs had mounted their own remarkable comeback in the third term. Grant, cut out of the first half by Darren Gaspar, loomed in pivotal moments as the Bulldogs fought back after the Tigers led by 10 points at half-time. It started with Grant charging at Richardson in the opening minutes as the Tiger waited alone in front of goal as the ball came down to him, Grant causing significant pressure to ensure Richardson fumbled and botched the opportunity to draw first blood after half-time.

The Bulldogs' midfield sprang into life as they sliced into their attacking 50, but they managed only one goal from four attempts. Richmond responded with the next two goals before the Bulldogs closed out the quarter in style.

Brown nabbed his third goal, but Greg Tivendale snapped a booming goal 25 minutes in to provide relief. It lasted only moments. Grant burst free of a cluster for the next goal and, with only a second left in the term, Todd Curley gave the Bulldogs the lead as Matthew Robbins shepherded off David Bourke to allow Curley's kick to slip through.

Many eyes had looked for the match-up between Tony Liberatore and Matthew Knights, and the pair renewed acquaintances with some pushing and shoving before the opening bounce.

But Liberatore was set to hound Tigers skipper Wayne Campbell, the man whose frank evidence at the AFL Tribunal was a key element in Liberatore being suspended for five matches. Throughout the night, Knights, Liberatore and Campbell were vociferously booed by the crowd.

[one-eyed]

Richmond then marched onwards to September action while the Doggies were left to lick their wounds missing the finals.

THE END.

I'll add some clips of the return match that I have asap.

I've added Rex's 3aw call of the incident in the first post of the thread.