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Luke Beveridge has addressed Chris Grant’s absence from the Western Bulldogs’ centenary gala celebration on Monday night, saying the former executive football manager and champion player had been a “critical figure” at the club.
Grant chose to maintain his self-imposed exile from Whitten Oval and stay away from the historic evening at which he was named No.3 of the Bulldogs’ 25 greatest-ever players, behind E.J. Whitten and current captain Marcus Bontempelli.
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge and club great Chris Grant in 2020.Credit: AFL Photos
The 341-game great parted ways with the Bulldogs late last year after a club review reduced his day-to-day connection with the men’s program and coach Beveridge.
Tensions had flared between Grant and Beveridge following the then football manager’s decision at the end of the 2023 season to overrule the coach and move on his long-time assistant Rohan Smith.
Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains strongly denied reports of a rift between the pair. Grant declined to comment, and Bains was contacted for comment.
It is the second centenary celebration that Grant has missed this year after he stayed away from a past players’ function in round two.
“It would have been great to have Chris there [on Monday night] for him, especially when you consider the impact that he’s had on our football club,” Beveridge said at a press conference on Thursday.
“Even in the struggling times when the club wasn’t financial and our survival was questioned, Granty was a critical figure on the playing field and through that journey to show his loyalty, as Marcus has in recent times.
“So it would have been great to be able to acknowledge Chris as part of that recognised 25 but, you know, unfortunately, he wasn’t there. It didn’t diminish the celebration. We celebrated everyone that was there.
“As you know, there’s a number of gentlemen who are no longer with us on this Earth, and it was great to have representatives from their families there, to be able to celebrate who they have been, as men who impacted our footy club.”
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