Susan Alberti still upset but Peter Gordon says it’s time to move on
WESTERN Bulldogs president Peter Gordon declared on Friday it was time to “move on” from Albertigate, but friends and family of patron Susan Alberti say she remains deeply saddened by last week’s events.
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PETER Gordon declared on Friday it was time to “move on” from Albertigate, but friends and family of the Western Bulldogs patron say she remains deeply saddened by the events of last week.
SUSAN ALBERTI TO GET MATCH ESCORT AFTER BULLDOGS SAGA
ALBERTI-GORDON FEUD INFLAMED BY GATE ‘HUMILIATION’
MICHAEL SUKKAR CALLS ON PETER GORDON TO APOLOGISE TO SUSAN ALBERTI
An email obtained by the Sunday Herald Sun reveals Susan Alberti’s husband, Colin North, attempted to explain the circumstances of her Whitten Oval lockout to Gordon.
“I was present throughout and I suggest before this matter goes any further you consider the following summary of facts,” North told Gordon.
“My conclusion ... is that Sue followed your protocols and someone at your end stuffed up.
“In the circumstances I suggest it is appropriate for you, as soon as possible, to issue a gracious and fulsome apology on behalf of the club to Sue.”
But an apology was not forthcoming.
Gordon says an offer to meet for coffee to explain the club’s position remains open, but that now seems unlikely.
HOW SUSAN ALBERTI HELPED TO SAVE THE DOGS
One Bulldogs staffer this week claimed some club bosses had become sick of Alberti’s “access-all-areas attitude”.
Others insist the Whitten Oval incident was a genuine mistake.
A resolution of sorts was reached on Wednesday when AFLW chief Nicole Livingstone stepped in and offered to escort Alberti, 70, into all future matches.
The feud has also opened up political divides, with Gordon taking aim on Friday at federal MP Michael Sukkar, a friend of Alberti who had called on him to apologise.
Mr Sukkar was one of three Turnbull Government MPs threatened with contempt of court charges last year after accusing the state’s judiciary of being soft on terror sentencing.
Gordon said: “I think what he (Sukkar) said was a ‘fulsome and generous apology’ and it sparked my memory. So I went back and looked at the Court of Appeal proceedings in relation to his contempt of court problems.
“I think a ‘fulsome and generous apology’ is one you make when you are about to be thrown in jail for contempt. So um, thanks Michael,” Gordon said.
Mr Sukkar hit back on Saturday, saying: “It’s disappointing that instead of just apologising to Sue Alberti, Peter Gordon is now engaging in personal attacks.
“This should have been dealt with immediately. Instead the AFL have had to step in, which indicates that they entirely agree with Sue Alberti. This sadly says a lot about the way Peter Gordon has behaved.”
Another prominent Dogs figure raised questions about the compilation of the VIP list guarded be security at the Whitten Oval gate.
“Who signs off on the list?” the figure said. “Was Sue’s name ever on the list and was her name directed to be taken off the list? To have her squeezed out like this is abhorrent. All is not well in the Doghouse.”
He said he believed club staff were “too scared” to speak out in defence of the trailblazing businesswoman.
Some have not been surprised by the club’s treatment of Alberti, citing a growing unease about its treatment of women. A revolving door of chief executives over a short period has also raised questions.
A senior Liberal Party insider said it was ironic Alberti was denied access to the main entry of the Whitten Oval, as it would not exist without her multi-million-dollar personal contribution to the club’s redevelopment a decade ago.
“It was her own significant pledge, plus political connections in the Howard government, which delivered the modern Whitten Oval facility,” he said.
Friends of Alberti say they began to notice signs the former Bulldogs vice-president was on the outer at the club early last year. Her 12-year stint as a director came to an end a few months after the club’s drought-breaking 2016 premiership.
“Sue has been beloved by people at the club for years, but there was an obvious cooling off after she stepped down from the board,” one Alberti associate said.
“It was just subtle things, and it was probably just over-the-top behaviour before and dropped back quite a way — but Sue was still as keen on the Bulldogs as ever.
“The first thing you do is question whether you are seeing things, and then you wonder what is causing it.”
Gordon told ABC radio on Friday: “Well look, she (Alberti) said that she’s sorted something out with the AFL, from our point of view she’s welcome at all of our games ... she was welcome last week.
“There was an issue with gates, I’ve now reached out to her four times seeking a meeting and I read in the Herald Sun that she won’t be meeting me.
“I certainly hopes she knows that I’m happy to meet her anytime ,and if she would prefer to meet with someone else at the club, that’s fine too. Everyone is welcome at the Western Bulldogs.”
The Alberti camp outright reject suggestions she has a sense of entitlement. The friend added: “I don’t think Sue deserved this. She’s done more than enough for that club to receive an apology.”
MESSAGE FROM COLIN NORTH TO PETER GORDON
Dear Peter,
I refer to the incident which occurred on or about 6.00 pm, Friday night 23rd February at the front entrance of the VU Whitten Oval before the AFLW Pride game.
I was present throughout and I suggest before this matter goes any further you consider the following summary of facts.
■ Sue was invited by Joy FM to be part of a pre match “on air panel interview.
■ We were prevented from entering by security on the grounds that Sue’s name was not on a list that had been provided to security.
■ Security was requested to contact club management to clear Sue for entry. This was done and Sue and I were told that the answer from club management was “No”.
■ Security was requested to contact JoyFM. Security refused to do this and instead insisted that Sue, Elda and I enter via either one of the two public entrances ie Cross St end or the Barkly St end.
■ As there was no time for Sue to meet her commitment with JoyFM if she had done this we decided Elda would go into the ground via the Barkly St end and at least get us some seats in the Grandstand and Sue and I would remain where we were to await a resolution to Sue’s dilemma.
■ We eventually attracted Jo Parr’s attention as she was passing near the front door and Jo agreed to admit Sue and I to the main reception area.
■ Sue immediately checked if security access was available for her to reach Balcony 3/4 via the Lift adjacent to the main reception. Security at this point advised her name was on this access list as per the advice Sue had received from JoyFM.
My conclusion from this summary of facts is that Sue followed your protocols and someone at your end stuffed up.
In the circumstances I suggest it is appropriate for you, as soon as possible, to issue a gracious and fulsome apology on behalf of the Club to Sue.
Regards, Colin
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