WINNING the west will be a main aim for newly endorsed Western Bulldogs president-in-waiting Peter Gordon.
Current president David Smorgon last week announced he would step aside after 16 years — 12 months earlier than expected.
A Melbourne lawyer, Gordon (pictured) was president between 1989 and 1996, prior to a group led by Smorgon, Rick Kennedy and Alan Johnstone.
Smorgon will stand down at the club’s annual general meeting on December 20 at which members will be asked to vote Gordon onto the board, to confirm his presidency.
Director Susan Alberti has been endorsed as the next vice-president.
At a press conference at Whitten Oval last week, Gordon emphasised the club’s position as the team of Melbourne’s west.
“We need people living in Hoppers Crossing, Werribee, Altona and Melton to understand that we are their team,” he said.
“In a sense we are Greater Western Melbourne and Greater Western Melbourne is as important to future of the competition as Greater Western Sydney.”
Although the club faced many challenges, Gordon said the outlook was bright and he was keen to attract more corporate support.
“I think the sky’s the limit, frankly,” he said.
Smorgon, 65, described Gordon as a man with a “track record of success” with “red, white and blue in his veins”.
In reflecting on his tenure, Smorgon recalled his first meeting with players and staff.
“I said the only time success comes before work is in the dictionary.
“We changed our name from Footscray to the Western Bulldogs to identify with the fastest-growing area in the country, we changed our jumper, we changed our motto and moved from the Whitten Oval.
“We changed the way we viewed ourselves and gained respect from competitors, the AFL and public.”— Cameron Tait
