Sad truth as legend misses Western Bulldogs celebration
Fuel has been poured on a burning rumour surrounding an AFL legend’s relationship with his former football club.
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Bulldogs legend Chris Grant was the big name missing from the Western Bulldogs’ centenary gala on Monday night.
On a special night for the football club, it was sad for many fans to see Grant did not attend the event as rumours of a rift between the former centre half-forward and club officials continue to swirl.
As first reported by Channel 9’s Tom Morris, Grant was not at the Whitten Oval gala where the club celebrated its 25 greatest players of the past 100 years.
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It is a concerning update following months of rumours the 52-year-old fell out with sections of the club before his departure as football department boss last year.
According to Code Sports in March, Grant and Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge were not on speaking terms towards the end of the 2024 season.
Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains in February, 2024, said there had been “tensions in many quarters” but denied there was a rift between Grant and Beveridge, saying those reports had been “grossly exaggerated”.
However, it is clear the dynamic deteriorated, leading to Grant’s decision to step down in November — ending his 31 years with the club.
Since debuting with the club in 1990 as a 17-year-old, Grant developed into one of the club’s greatest players, twice winning the Charles Sutton Medal.
He was named captain in 2001. His retirement in 2007 was the end of an era.
Grant was loved on and off the field as a loyal club servant, reportedly turning down a monster contract offer from Port Adelaide to stay with the Bulldogs during his playing career.
He was appointed to the club’s board of directors in 2011 and moved into a role as football department boss in 2016 to oversee the men’s and women’s teams.
Both sides won premierships, in 2016 and 2018 respectively.
Grant’s decision to step down came after the Bulldogs created a new position in 2023 which created distance between him and senior coach Beveridge.
Former Geelong defender Matthew Egan was appointed as general manager of football operations following a review of the club’s football department.
It meant Beveridge no longer reported to Grant directly. According to The Age, Grant’s role shifted to focus more on the club’s AFLW program.
It is clear Grant’s messy split from the club cut deep, judging by his no-shows at recent club events.
“One person who isn’t here is Chris Grant, who had an acrimonious split with the club last year when he was the club football boss,” Morris said on 9News.
“He missed the Round 2 gala at the MCG. And he’s also missing tonight, saying he’s unavailable.”
25 of the greatest all together. â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/5QodqqtCPC
— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) July 21, 2025
Grant missed the club’s 100 year celebration — against Collingwood in March — with the club saying he was overseas at the time.
He played 300 games for the club and it would have been fitting for Grant to attend both of this year’s big events.
His farewell statement in 2024 showed how sad his separation from the club has been.
“I’ve spent over half of my life with the club as a player and administrator and will cherish the many memories we have created together at the Western Bulldogs,” Grant said.
“While the decision to pause and map out the next stage of my professional career has not been an easy one, I leave knowing the club is in a great position to succeed and write the next chapter in the amazing history of the red, white and blue.”
Six living Brownlow medallists, including recently distant 2008 medallist Adam Cooney, attended the March celebration where greats of the club were recognised before the game on the MCG playing surface.
Club champions, including Brad Johnson, Doug Hawkins, Rohan Smith, Scott West and Bob Murphy were present.
It has been a turbulent time at The Kennel in recent years with the departure of several football department figures, but the club has banked on stability in handing Beveridge a two-year contract extension through to the end of the 2027 season.
The Bulldogs have not won a final since 2021.
Originally published as Sad truth as legend misses Western Bulldogs celebration
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