chef
23-08-2010, 09:50 AM
THE Western Bulldogs have reached out to former coach Terry Wallace in what could be the first step towards welcoming him back to Whitten Oval.
Wallace has been persona non grata at the club since he announced ahead of the last game of the 2002 season that he was leaving, despite having two years left on his contract.
Bulldogs president David Smorgon said at the time he felt betrayed by Wallace and denied him a farewell match.
But Smorgon last night revealed to The Age he had contacted Wallace last week in a bid to heal the fractured relationship.
''Subject to finding a convenient time, we'll try and catch up,'' he said.
Asked what Wallace's response had been, Smorgon replied: ''You'll have to ask Terry that.''
Wallace did not return calls last night.
Smorgon said he had spoken with Wallace from ''time to time'' since their partnership ended although this had generally been on professional terms.
''For a long time, we have seen each other in media commitments, not so much when he was at Richmond, but before that with Fox and on radio,'' he said.
It's understood former Bulldogs ruckman Luke Darcy also contacted Wallace last week in an attempt to clear the air after his controversial column in which he claimed Wallace had been too insecure to receive player feedback and this was to blame for the club failing to win a premiership in the late 1990s.
Wallace took charge of the Bulldogs during the 1996 season but by the end of 2002 said he had lost the passion to coach, although speculation raged that he had agreed and perhaps even signed to join Sydney.
Such was the bitterness of the fall-out that Smorgon warned rival clubs to be wary of Wallace.
The Swans, under pressure from their supporters, eventually settled on Paul Roos, and Wallace became a media commentator until joining Richmond for the 2005 season.
The lingering animosity of several senior players towards Wallace was reinforced last week when he was not invited to Brad Johnson's testimonial lunch.
Wallace had said he had been approached to film a tribute for Johnson, but the opportunity never materialised.
Johnson was a best and fairest under Wallace and did thank him on stage for his contribution.
Darcy, however, even joked about Wallace's absence.
''Firstly, there's an apology,'' Darcy said on stage. ''One person missing from the panel is Terry Wallace, who would have been here, but wouldn't return my call.''
Wallace used his final press conference with the Tigers last year to apologise for his sour ending at the Bulldogs.
''It was never my intention for it to go down the pathway it did,'' he said.
''My kids grew up at that club, I've got some of my greatest friends that I've had in the game at that club and I hope somewhere along the line those wounds will heal.''
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/bulldogs-offer-olive-branch-to-wallace-20100822-13avc.html
Wallace has been persona non grata at the club since he announced ahead of the last game of the 2002 season that he was leaving, despite having two years left on his contract.
Bulldogs president David Smorgon said at the time he felt betrayed by Wallace and denied him a farewell match.
But Smorgon last night revealed to The Age he had contacted Wallace last week in a bid to heal the fractured relationship.
''Subject to finding a convenient time, we'll try and catch up,'' he said.
Asked what Wallace's response had been, Smorgon replied: ''You'll have to ask Terry that.''
Wallace did not return calls last night.
Smorgon said he had spoken with Wallace from ''time to time'' since their partnership ended although this had generally been on professional terms.
''For a long time, we have seen each other in media commitments, not so much when he was at Richmond, but before that with Fox and on radio,'' he said.
It's understood former Bulldogs ruckman Luke Darcy also contacted Wallace last week in an attempt to clear the air after his controversial column in which he claimed Wallace had been too insecure to receive player feedback and this was to blame for the club failing to win a premiership in the late 1990s.
Wallace took charge of the Bulldogs during the 1996 season but by the end of 2002 said he had lost the passion to coach, although speculation raged that he had agreed and perhaps even signed to join Sydney.
Such was the bitterness of the fall-out that Smorgon warned rival clubs to be wary of Wallace.
The Swans, under pressure from their supporters, eventually settled on Paul Roos, and Wallace became a media commentator until joining Richmond for the 2005 season.
The lingering animosity of several senior players towards Wallace was reinforced last week when he was not invited to Brad Johnson's testimonial lunch.
Wallace had said he had been approached to film a tribute for Johnson, but the opportunity never materialised.
Johnson was a best and fairest under Wallace and did thank him on stage for his contribution.
Darcy, however, even joked about Wallace's absence.
''Firstly, there's an apology,'' Darcy said on stage. ''One person missing from the panel is Terry Wallace, who would have been here, but wouldn't return my call.''
Wallace used his final press conference with the Tigers last year to apologise for his sour ending at the Bulldogs.
''It was never my intention for it to go down the pathway it did,'' he said.
''My kids grew up at that club, I've got some of my greatest friends that I've had in the game at that club and I hope somewhere along the line those wounds will heal.''
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/bulldogs-offer-olive-branch-to-wallace-20100822-13avc.html