Western Bulldogs feud won’t stop Susan Alberti attending AFLW games
After the humiliation of being refused entry to Whitten Oval last season, Susan Alberti says she still feels unwelcome by the Western Bulldogs but won’t let that dampen her passion for the women’s side.
Women's sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Women's sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Western Bulldogs icon Susan Alberti says she still feels unwelcome at the club but will actively support its women’s side, starting by being at Norwood Oval on Saturday night.
GRAND PLAN: WHAT THE BULLDOGS MEAN TO SUE
DOGS SAVED: HOW SUE HELPED SALVAGE THE BULLDOGS
The former club vice-president, patron and mentor was left embarrassed after she was refused entry at the main gate of Whitten Oval before a Bulldogs AFLW game last season.
She was not invited to the club’s AFLW launch last month, which the Bulldogs said was a low-key event with mainly just players and their families.
Her relationship with Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon remains strained but she said she would attend every Bulldogs AFLW match this season.
“I haven’t had anything to do with Peter in the last little while,” she said.
“I’m sure it will be fine when we meet one another again.
“It was just one of those things that happened that shouldn’t have happened. It was insulting, it hurt, it hurt terribly, but the club is bigger than any individual. Let’s move on; that’s history.
“I haven’t been back … (but) I’m here for the women. I’m not here for any individual, I’m here for women playing football.
“ … It’s a bigger picture. It is quite sad, but that’s how it is and I’ll be there cheering on the red, white and blue when they’re playing and I’ll be cheering on all the other teams.
“It hurts, it hurts … it really is quite sad but we’ll see what happens.
“I’ll be there, I’ll be there with red, white and blue round my neck.”
The Bulldogs start their premiership defence against Adelaide at Norwood Oval on Saturday night.
Meet the Australian rugby league schoolgirls, NRLW’s next generation
Meet the next generation NRLW stars, the Australian schoolgirls who were on a collision course to clash with Papua New Guinea on Sunday.
Splashdown! Day of disaster for Aussies in women’s America’s Cup
The women’s America’s Cup dream of an Australian crew is over after just two days of racing, a disastrous touchdown, a broken start penalty and erratic conditions. How it played out.