WESTERN Bulldogs president David Smorgon will hand power to his predecessor Peter Gordon in December.
In a shock move, the 65-year-old has announced he will step aside after 16 years at the helm and 12 months earlier than expected.
Smorgon took the top job at Whitten Oval in 1996 from Gordon who had led the 1989 fightback which saved the club after the VFL announced plans for a merger between Footscray and Fitzroy.
A leading Melbourne lawyer, Gordon was president between 1989 and 1996, before he made way for group lead by Smorgon, Rick Kennedy and Alan Johnstone.
SEE Bulldog spirit: Peter Gordon lays down the law
At a press conference at Whitten Oval today, Smorgon reflected on his tenure and what he told players and staff on his first meeting with them.
‘‘I said the only time success comes before work is in the dictionary,’’ he said.
‘‘Hard work was our theme on and off the field.
‘‘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 we gained respect from our competitors, the AFL and football public.
‘‘Looking back on those times they were challenging, demanding and frustrating, but immensely satisfying.’’
Smorgon is believed to have been swayed by a succession report tabled at a club board meeting on Tuesday and will stand down at the club’s annual general meeting on December 20.
At the meeting, Bulldogs members will be asked to vote Gordon on to the board, which would confirm his presidency.
Director Susan Alberti is expected to be vice-president.
A Bulldogs board committee, led by outgoing Dogs director Ian Veal, had been exploring succession options for the presidency.
Smorgon had been the second-longest serving president in the AFL behind Sydney Swans chairman Richard Colless.
Gordon said he was excited about the club’s future and keen
to attract more corporate support.
‘‘I think the sky’s the limit, frankly,’’ he
said.
‘‘It’s [the club] in a much better position than when I left
it back at the end of 1996, and of course it’s in an exponentially better
position than it was in 1989.
Smorgon described Gordon was a man with a ‘‘track record of
success’’, while Gordon said Smorgon was the Bulldogs greatest president and
hailed his ‘‘extraordinary contribution’’ to the club.
‘‘No one can ever fully replace him [Smorgon],’’ Gordon
said.
‘‘I feel particularly honoured to be given the opportunity
and I’ll do my very best in the role.’’
