http://www.cairnspost.com.au/sport/local-sport/western-bulldogs-ceo-simon-garlick-confident-a-game-in-cairns-at-cazalys-is-a-positive-for-his-afl-club/story-fnjpuwsz-1226936709800
WHEN Richmond lost to the Gold Coast in 2011, Tigers boss Brendan Gale copped an earful as he left Cazalys.
The reception back in Melbourne, from fans angry they had sold a home game away from the MCG, was much worse.
“I’ve got a few memories that stick out,” Gale told me one year later in his Punt Road office.
“They were hostile, demanding answers (as) it was our home game.
“Then I sat next to a journalist on the plane home, who was telling me about what he was going to write about us. Then my daughter vomited on me. What a day.”
That was in the lead up to their second visit north, which was famously ruined by a winning goal after the siren to Karmichael Hunt.
Imagine the Tigers fans then.
Even after they finally got a win in their third visit, it was no surprise the top-eight bound Tigers scurried back the MCG this season.
Enter Western Bulldogs boss Simon Garlick, who has locked his club in to one year in Cairns against the Suns – the game to be played on July 12 – and indicated they are interested in making it more than a fleeting one night stand.
The Tigers’ Far North woes well documented, Garlick admits there are risks involved with taking home games on the road.
But Garlick, like Gale a decorated former player of the club, points to the Bulldogs’ recent history as evidence that it will be all right.
Nine years playing in Darwin, of which Garlick took part as a midfielder and administrator, he says, is proof their fans can cop it.
“There is that element of risk, for sure,” Garlick said.
“But Darwin was a pretty popular trip for our fans and we were fortunate to perform pretty well.
“It was long term with Darwin, nearly a decade and we were able to spread our brand to a new market.”
“Fans don’t take kindly to any loss, but I think they understand where we are at and how we are developing as a club.
“And I think they also see the broader picture about how the club should look at their responsibility to grow the game – this (playing in Cairns) is for the greater good of the competition.”
That Bulldogs “brand” is an interesting one, different to the Tigers in that they are still trying to establish themselves in Melbourne.
“I’ve been around the club for almost 20 years, and it’s always something we are open to because of our financial position,” senior assistant coach and fellow former player Brett Montgomery said.
“Cairns is just another opportunity for us in an open market, and even back in western Melbourne it is a sleeping giant with no real standout sporting code.
“I liken it to the (A League franchise) Western Sydney Wanderers; we need to wake them up by just being successful.”
Another point of difference between Cazalys’ current and its former occupants is the fact the Bulldogs will enter the game as underdogs.
By beating them last Sunday on the Gold Coast, the Suns moved into third.
A similarly-young side without the help of a favourable few years in the draft, the Bulldogs are playing catch-up while the Tigers were always tipped to beat the raw Suns.
“Yeah you look at them and shake your head at times,” Montgomery said of the Suns, now a different beast after three-and-a-half seasons in the AFL.
“It makes perfect sense though, to get them to this stage; you watch and think there’s going to be some tough times against this mob.”
Not that they are automatically conceding any game against the Suns, or getting caught up in the Gary Ablett bubble.
“There is a better story than the Gary Ablett show,” the assistant coach said.
“The Suns’ midfield runs deeper than most, their three tall forwards are playing together and their backline is looking solid.
“But we’ve been able to retain a few older blokes and keep them healthy to bring these next lot through; it’s something other clubs like the Suns don’t have at their disposal (to the same degree).”
Another way is exposing the young group – as of earlier this month nine players were under 21 and 18 were between 21 and 24 – to new environments.
“There is something special about interstate travel as a group,” Garlick muses to me from the foyer of a Gold Coast hotel.
“It’s an ‘us against the world’ kind of scenario and it can be a really positive thing.”
“That’s why we are more than open to discussing the potential for more games up in Cairns.”
Speaking about 24 hours later, about 30 minutes after his side had lost to the Suns, Bulldogs head coach Brendan McCartney was thoughtful in an assessment that echoed the CEO’s feelings.
“They’ve got enough sponsors up here already I reckon,” he smirked as their communications contingent pulled their own sponsor backdrop neatly behind the respected coach.
Earlier his Doggies had niggled, gnarled and almost knocked off the high-flying Suns.
“For 60 minutes we had the game where we wanted, but we had to keep going and hanging in there,” said McCartney.
They’ll get another chance in Cairns on July 12.
Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast Suns
Cazalys, Saturday July 12, 4.40pm
ticketdirect.com.au
Story and photo courtesy of Cairns Post
Last Modified on 06/11/2014 14:57