AFL 2019: Bulldogs president Peter Gordon questions uproar over increased security

[Eastdog]

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AFL 2019: Bulldogs president Peter Gordon questions uproar over increased security

Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon is backing the increased security presence at AFL games, questioning why there has been an outpouring of negative criticism towards it.

AFL chief executive officer Gillon McLachlan will front the media at 2pm to address the concerns fans have over the issue.

But speaking on morning radio, Gordon questioned what McLachlan would be apologising for, with the president sitting among the outer on Saturday night at the Western Bulldogs’ clash with Carlton.

I didn’t think that anything that was going on on the weekend generated the sense of urgency or crisis that now appears to have been built up,” he told SEN’s Whateley.

“I don’t know what Gillon McLachlan’s about to apologise for.

“I was sitting in Bay 9 myself on Saturday night, three rows up from where this alleged incident occurred.

“I saw these extra security. The idea of having enhanced security is I think something that most people would support. I am curious to see what he is about to apologise for.

“I hope it’s not something that enables and emboldens the very element of the crowds that we are trying to change.”

Gordon suggested the AFL needed to “tackle the elephant in the room” regarding fan behaviour, explaining that fans weren’t entitled to do or say what they wanted, despite paying for their entry.

“You’re not entitled to do whatever you want, say whatever you want, because you have paid your money,” Gordon said.

“We do expect a higher standard. We expect higher standards from our players, from our officials, and we have got to tackle the elephant in the room, which is the crowds.

“My concern, frankly, about the AFL, is the AFL have such a customer focus, such a focus of the customer is always right, that they may not be prepared to actually see this matter through.

“But for the good of the competition we have to. You have to take a stand.

“You have to believe in something and then you have to stand for it. If we want the crowd, that sort of negative crowd behaviour to be disrupted, to be different, if we want it to be a safer place for families to take their kids and not be intimidated and not be scared, then we have to stand up at moments like this.

“And not just enable those who have been whinging about one more walk down the aisle.”