GVGjr
04-10-2007, 05:10 AM
Grant's message to Dogs (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22527661%255E19742,00.html)
04 October 2007 Herald Sun
Mark Stevens
WESTERN Bulldogs legend Chris Grant has delivered a powerful farewell message, declaring it was time his former teammates became more selfless.
Chris Grant
Retiring Western Bulldogs legend Chris Grant has urged a rethink on tream ethic for next season. Picture: Michael Klein
Grant, who raised concerns in the inner sanctum about team ethic this season, put it on the public record soon after announcing his retirement on Tuesday night.
"We need a major shift in the way we actually think about the way we contribute to game day," Grant said.
"There's no doubt we need everybody to be selfless. Geelong have proved that. We need to look at what they (Geelong) did in their review possibly and how they actually got every player to buy into what (coach) Mark Thompson wanted.
"We just haven't got it yet. Everybody talked about how good 2006 was, but we finished eighth and won a final which meant we finished sixth.
"I don't know anybody who's going to be overly happy with that. Our style of play was great, but it's obvious after the season we've had there's heaps to work on. There's a few elements we need to change. One of the elements is our selflessness, which is what premiership teams are able to get."
It was a clear statement from Grant that the time had come to stop feting individuals and put teamwork and sacrificial acts first to emulate the drought-breaking Cats.
"We've had champion players of the competition individually . . . but none of them were premiership players," Grant said.
"It's like that quote that you are a very good player, but you can't be great until you win a flag. Bloody oath, it's true."
Coach Rodney Eade and the retiring Brett Montgomery also delivered similar messages at the Dogs' best-and-fairest count, where the theme was about righting the wrongs of 2007.
Full-back Brian Harris won the Charles Sutton Medal from skipper Brad Johnson and seven-time winner Scott West.
Some players were so frustrated by a wasted campaign they felt like shelving the best-and-fairest award for a year.
"I think there was a bit of a train of thought of that," West said after the count.
"(But) if they (the match committee) thought players were playing for themselves, they wouldn't get votes.
"Brian's had a terrific year. He has done what the coaches have wanted him to -- everything team-orientated -- so he deserves to win."
And West made it clear that there had to be a significant shift in culture next year.
"You'll find next year, it's going to be about what I can do for you, what the next bloke can do for me and what those three can do for the next bloke -- and vice versa," West said.
In front of 800 supporters, Eade used the all-conquering Cats as an example, pointing out how much each player was prepared to sacrifice his own game for the good of the team in the Grand Final.
"For our players to be successful, that's what we must do," Eade said.
"We need players that are totally committed . . . able to sacrifice and do that little bit extra so the Western Bulldogs are successful. Success is not far away. It is certainly within our grasp. I'm of great belief we can head north very quickly."
04 October 2007 Herald Sun
Mark Stevens
WESTERN Bulldogs legend Chris Grant has delivered a powerful farewell message, declaring it was time his former teammates became more selfless.
Chris Grant
Retiring Western Bulldogs legend Chris Grant has urged a rethink on tream ethic for next season. Picture: Michael Klein
Grant, who raised concerns in the inner sanctum about team ethic this season, put it on the public record soon after announcing his retirement on Tuesday night.
"We need a major shift in the way we actually think about the way we contribute to game day," Grant said.
"There's no doubt we need everybody to be selfless. Geelong have proved that. We need to look at what they (Geelong) did in their review possibly and how they actually got every player to buy into what (coach) Mark Thompson wanted.
"We just haven't got it yet. Everybody talked about how good 2006 was, but we finished eighth and won a final which meant we finished sixth.
"I don't know anybody who's going to be overly happy with that. Our style of play was great, but it's obvious after the season we've had there's heaps to work on. There's a few elements we need to change. One of the elements is our selflessness, which is what premiership teams are able to get."
It was a clear statement from Grant that the time had come to stop feting individuals and put teamwork and sacrificial acts first to emulate the drought-breaking Cats.
"We've had champion players of the competition individually . . . but none of them were premiership players," Grant said.
"It's like that quote that you are a very good player, but you can't be great until you win a flag. Bloody oath, it's true."
Coach Rodney Eade and the retiring Brett Montgomery also delivered similar messages at the Dogs' best-and-fairest count, where the theme was about righting the wrongs of 2007.
Full-back Brian Harris won the Charles Sutton Medal from skipper Brad Johnson and seven-time winner Scott West.
Some players were so frustrated by a wasted campaign they felt like shelving the best-and-fairest award for a year.
"I think there was a bit of a train of thought of that," West said after the count.
"(But) if they (the match committee) thought players were playing for themselves, they wouldn't get votes.
"Brian's had a terrific year. He has done what the coaches have wanted him to -- everything team-orientated -- so he deserves to win."
And West made it clear that there had to be a significant shift in culture next year.
"You'll find next year, it's going to be about what I can do for you, what the next bloke can do for me and what those three can do for the next bloke -- and vice versa," West said.
In front of 800 supporters, Eade used the all-conquering Cats as an example, pointing out how much each player was prepared to sacrifice his own game for the good of the team in the Grand Final.
"For our players to be successful, that's what we must do," Eade said.
"We need players that are totally committed . . . able to sacrifice and do that little bit extra so the Western Bulldogs are successful. Success is not far away. It is certainly within our grasp. I'm of great belief we can head north very quickly."