Sad truth as legend misses Western Bulldogs celebration
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.
FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer.
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. �� 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.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


7NEWS
3 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Steven May's ban upheld after failing to overturn rough conduct suspension at AFL appeals board
Star defender Steven May will still miss Melbourne's next two games after the Demons' bid to overturn his rough conduct suspension was rejected by the AFL appeals board. May was initially handed a three-match ban by the tribunal for rough conduct over the high-speed collision in the Demons' July 19 loss to Carlton that left Blues forward Francis Evans with concussion, a broken nose and a missing tooth. The All Australian defender maintained the ball was always his focus. May, who missed the Demons' demoralising loss to St Kilda on Sunday with his own concussion, will be suspended for games against West Coast and the Western Bulldogs. He was not involved in Monday night's appeal hearing. The Demons appealed on the basis the tribunal made an error of law and that no tribunal acting reasonably could have come to the decision it did. Melbourne's case, which was presented over more than an hour, hinged on the contention that no reasonable tribunal would expect a player to anticipate the trajectory of the ball's bounce. Melbourne noted after a handball went over Evans' head, the ball bounced four times. The first three bounces went away from the Carlton player, before the fourth took the ball into his hands, when May made contact. Jack Rush, acting for the Demons, contended the tribunal had put a 'sense of perfection on the reasonable player' in expecting May to anticipate the ball's trajectory. Melbourne also contended that the tribunal noting Evans had made a movement to avoid contact, while not taking into account May had extended his left leg in an attempt to also slow down, was 'the height of procedural unfairness' and demonstrated 'unreasonableness'. AFL representative Nick Pane quickly contended the tribunal's finding was not unreasonable before the appeals board of Stephen Jurica, Wayne Henwood and chair Will Houghton deliberated for 14 minutes. In rejecting Melbourne's appeal, Houghton said the board was satisfied May understood the case being put forward against him and he had every opportunity to put forward his own case. He concluded there was no lack of procedural fairness and no unreasonableness in the tribunal's decision. Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin had said on Sunday that May was 'devastated and shattered' by the tribunal's decision, having believed he had done the right thing in attacking the ball. Goodwin also predicted the case would shape the way players approach contests in future. He believed players would adapt with the more information they get from the AFL about how they are required to act in certain scenarios. Collingwood forward Brody Mihocek has avoided suspension for pushing Richmond's Nick Vlastuin into two oncoming players. The incident, in the second quarter of Sunday's match at the MCG, was graded low impact, careless conduct and body contact and Mihocek can accept a $1500 fine for rough conduct.

News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
Glamour couple Jordan De Goey, Aisha Jade McKinnon drop ‘surprise' life update
Collingwood forward Jordan De Goey and his former reality TV star girlfriend Aisha Jade McKinnon have announced the 'surprise' news they are expecting a baby girl. De Goey, 29, has been held to just five games for the Pies in an injury-plagued 2025 season, although he is in line for an AFL return this weekend. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. New Zealander McKinnon, who found fame as a contestant on Big Brother and is now a fashion designer and influencer, met the footy bad boy in early 2024 after linking up on Instagram. They went public with their romance at Collingwood's best and fairest awards last year and have since bought a farm together. McKinnon's Instagram bio says 'Fashion, Beauty and little Farm life' and the celebrity couple used that platform to announce their happy news. 'In the midst of our changing lives we were blessed with the greatest surprise of them all,' they captioned a joint post on Sunday. 'Baby girl coming soon.' The post featured an ultrasound, a sweet photo of De Goey holding McKinnon's stomach and a video that appears to show the footy star getting a gender reveal gift from his partner (see below). The announcement has received more than 35,000 likes and over 800 comments, including a number from De Goey's Collingwood teammates. 'Unreal! Congrats to both of you,' wrote Josh Daicos. Model and Daicos' partner Annalise Dalins added: 'The best news!! Congratulations you two! Sending (so much) love.' Oleg Markov and Isaac Quaynor both wrote: 'Congrats guys.' Musician Bec Wilcock gushed: 'This makes me so happy!!! Bring in the girl squad.' McKinnon told the Herald Sun last year the couple have similar interests and are loving working on their farm about an hour outside Melbourne. 'He's really lovely. We definitely value our privacy, we connected on that, and we both have unique jobs and support each other,'' she said. 'We were like pen pals until we met. We're getting our hands dirty at the farm transforming it and having fun.' De Goey has played 176 games for the Pies, including the 2023 premiership, but hasn't featured since round eight due to an Achilles injury. He was then concussed at training in a collision with Brayden Maynard, setting back his return further, but he turned out in the VFL last weekend and is in line for a senior recall. Pick No. 5 in the 2014 national draft, De Goey has had a series of alcohol and violence related issues in the past, including an arrest in New York in 2021 over an alleged nightclub assault.


The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Demons star learns fate over appeals board hearing
Star defender Steven May will still miss Melbourne's next two games after the Demons' bid to overturn his rough conduct suspension was rejected by the AFL appeals board. May was initially handed a three-match ban by the tribunal for rough conduct over the high-speed collision in the Demons' July 19 loss to Carlton that left Blues forward Francis Evans with concussion, a broken nose and a missing tooth. The All Australian defender maintained the ball was always his focus. May, who missed the Demons' demoralising loss to St Kilda on Sunday with his own concussion, will be suspended for games against West Coast and the Western Bulldogs. He was not involved in Monday night's appeal hearing. The Demons appealed on the basis the tribunal made an error of law and that no tribunal acting reasonably could have come to the decision it did. Melbourne's case, which was presented over more than an hour, hinged on the contention that no reasonable tribunal would expect a player to anticipate the trajectory of the ball's bounce. Melbourne noted after a handball went over Evans' head, the ball bounced four times. The first three bounces went away from the Carlton player, before the fourth took the ball into his hands, when May made contact. Jack Rush, acting for the Demons, contended the tribunal had put a "sense of perfection on the reasonable player" in expecting May to anticipate the ball's trajectory. Melbourne also contended that the tribunal noting Evans had made a movement to avoid contact, while not taking into account May had extended his left leg in an attempt to also slow down, was "the height of procedural unfairness" and demonstrated "unreasonableness". AFL representative Nick Pane quickly contended the tribunal's finding was not unreasonable before the appeals board of Stephen Jurica, Wayne Henwood and chair Will Houghton deliberated for 14 minutes. In rejecting Melbourne's appeal, Houghton said the board was satisfied May understood the case being put forward against him and he had every opportunity to put forward his own case. He concluded there was no lack of procedural fairness and no unreasonableness in the tribunal's decision. Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin had said on Sunday that May was "devastated and shattered" by the tribunal's decision, having believed he had done the right thing in attacking the ball. Goodwin also predicted the case would shape the way players approach contests in future. He believed players would adapt with the more information they get from the AFL about how they are required to act in certain scenarios. Collingwood forward Brody Mihocek has avoided suspension for pushing Richmond's Nick Vlastuin into two oncoming players. The incident, in the second quarter of Sunday's match at the MCG, was graded low impact, careless conduct and body contact and Mihocek can accept a $1500 fine for rough conduct. Star defender Steven May will still miss Melbourne's next two games after the Demons' bid to overturn his rough conduct suspension was rejected by the AFL appeals board. May was initially handed a three-match ban by the tribunal for rough conduct over the high-speed collision in the Demons' July 19 loss to Carlton that left Blues forward Francis Evans with concussion, a broken nose and a missing tooth. The All Australian defender maintained the ball was always his focus. May, who missed the Demons' demoralising loss to St Kilda on Sunday with his own concussion, will be suspended for games against West Coast and the Western Bulldogs. He was not involved in Monday night's appeal hearing. The Demons appealed on the basis the tribunal made an error of law and that no tribunal acting reasonably could have come to the decision it did. Melbourne's case, which was presented over more than an hour, hinged on the contention that no reasonable tribunal would expect a player to anticipate the trajectory of the ball's bounce. Melbourne noted after a handball went over Evans' head, the ball bounced four times. The first three bounces went away from the Carlton player, before the fourth took the ball into his hands, when May made contact. Jack Rush, acting for the Demons, contended the tribunal had put a "sense of perfection on the reasonable player" in expecting May to anticipate the ball's trajectory. Melbourne also contended that the tribunal noting Evans had made a movement to avoid contact, while not taking into account May had extended his left leg in an attempt to also slow down, was "the height of procedural unfairness" and demonstrated "unreasonableness". AFL representative Nick Pane quickly contended the tribunal's finding was not unreasonable before the appeals board of Stephen Jurica, Wayne Henwood and chair Will Houghton deliberated for 14 minutes. In rejecting Melbourne's appeal, Houghton said the board was satisfied May understood the case being put forward against him and he had every opportunity to put forward his own case. He concluded there was no lack of procedural fairness and no unreasonableness in the tribunal's decision. Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin had said on Sunday that May was "devastated and shattered" by the tribunal's decision, having believed he had done the right thing in attacking the ball. Goodwin also predicted the case would shape the way players approach contests in future. He believed players would adapt with the more information they get from the AFL about how they are required to act in certain scenarios. Collingwood forward Brody Mihocek has avoided suspension for pushing Richmond's Nick Vlastuin into two oncoming players. The incident, in the second quarter of Sunday's match at the MCG, was graded low impact, careless conduct and body contact and Mihocek can accept a $1500 fine for rough conduct. Star defender Steven May will still miss Melbourne's next two games after the Demons' bid to overturn his rough conduct suspension was rejected by the AFL appeals board. May was initially handed a three-match ban by the tribunal for rough conduct over the high-speed collision in the Demons' July 19 loss to Carlton that left Blues forward Francis Evans with concussion, a broken nose and a missing tooth. The All Australian defender maintained the ball was always his focus. May, who missed the Demons' demoralising loss to St Kilda on Sunday with his own concussion, will be suspended for games against West Coast and the Western Bulldogs. He was not involved in Monday night's appeal hearing. The Demons appealed on the basis the tribunal made an error of law and that no tribunal acting reasonably could have come to the decision it did. Melbourne's case, which was presented over more than an hour, hinged on the contention that no reasonable tribunal would expect a player to anticipate the trajectory of the ball's bounce. Melbourne noted after a handball went over Evans' head, the ball bounced four times. The first three bounces went away from the Carlton player, before the fourth took the ball into his hands, when May made contact. Jack Rush, acting for the Demons, contended the tribunal had put a "sense of perfection on the reasonable player" in expecting May to anticipate the ball's trajectory. Melbourne also contended that the tribunal noting Evans had made a movement to avoid contact, while not taking into account May had extended his left leg in an attempt to also slow down, was "the height of procedural unfairness" and demonstrated "unreasonableness". AFL representative Nick Pane quickly contended the tribunal's finding was not unreasonable before the appeals board of Stephen Jurica, Wayne Henwood and chair Will Houghton deliberated for 14 minutes. In rejecting Melbourne's appeal, Houghton said the board was satisfied May understood the case being put forward against him and he had every opportunity to put forward his own case. He concluded there was no lack of procedural fairness and no unreasonableness in the tribunal's decision. Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin had said on Sunday that May was "devastated and shattered" by the tribunal's decision, having believed he had done the right thing in attacking the ball. Goodwin also predicted the case would shape the way players approach contests in future. He believed players would adapt with the more information they get from the AFL about how they are required to act in certain scenarios. Collingwood forward Brody Mihocek has avoided suspension for pushing Richmond's Nick Vlastuin into two oncoming players. The incident, in the second quarter of Sunday's match at the MCG, was graded low impact, careless conduct and body contact and Mihocek can accept a $1500 fine for rough conduct.