Chris Grant, a favourite son of Western Bulldogs history, became the latest to fan the flames this week. He chose to skip the club’s centenary gala. On Monday night, during a gala celebration of the club’s 100-year history, that time was long-ago. They were responsible for announcing the top five greatest players, and Grant was on the list! The volley of tributes that accompanied his departure has led to speculation regarding his stormy relationship with the club ownership and coaching staff.
Grant is currently third on the Western Bulldogs’ all-time greats list, behind only legends EJ ‘Ted’ Whitten and Marcus Bontempelli. He’s fostered a deep and rich history-making relationship with the club since joining in 1990. At the gala he was to be honored, but he never arrived. Given the current tumultuous climate, her absence raised eyebrows and led to questions about a divided organization.
In recent weeks leading up to the event, Ameet Bains, the CEO of the Western Bulldogs, reportedly urged Grant to participate. A series of text messages between them, including apologies and expressions of good will, showed that someone wanted to repair the relationship before the momentous celebration. Grant told them he was not going to go after all, showing a greater level of frustration with his interpersonal relationships inside of the club.
The public fallout between Grant and head coach Luke Beveridge has been particularly spiteful. According to these reports, the two hadn’t spoken during all of 2024, a testament to the depth of their divide. Caroline Wilson, a prominent sports commentator, remarked on the situation, stating, “It’s been widely reported that Chris Grant… wasn’t at the function.”
That tension boiled over to the point where Grant almost left the club at one point. Bains tried to play the peacemaker between the two sides, but his efforts apparently failed. Luke Hodge expressed disbelief that Bains did not intervene more assertively to resolve the ongoing dispute. “You’re both mature adults, you’re both professionals, get along until the end of the season…” Hodge stated.
Within the club, Bains, Luke Darcy and others participated in fiery and combative discussions. They weren’t content to stop there — they confronted the divisions created by that fallout directly. Grant soon got word that he would be playing a central role in the gala proceedings. His sudden departure sent shock waves through many political watchers.
The Western Bulldogs have chosen to reduce their all time list of 25 greats down to five. This high-profile step has sparked a firestorm of debate about who should be honored and who shouldn’t. Grant’s inclusion on this elite list is a testament to how impactful he has been for the team and the sport itself.
Though it’s been an intense time for the club, family comes first for Grant. His daughter Isabella made history herself, becoming the Bulldogs’ first father-daughter selection in the AFLW. This accomplishment has led the Grant family to put their issues aside for her career, emphasizing their pride in her achievements. Wilson noted, “It’s not so far gone that he isn’t going to watch his daughter Isabella play in AFLW this year.”
There is an undercurrent of sorrow and regret over how things turned out between Grant and Beveridge. “They’re obviously very proud of her … but there is a deep disappointment with Ameet Bains, (and) obviously real disappointment in the way Luke Beveridge responded to some honest feedback,” Wilson stated.
With the underlying tensions in the club clearly still not cooled, it seems Grant’s rapport with Beveridge is beyond all repair. “It was one or the other and Luke Beveridge won,” Wilson added, highlighting the difficult choices faced by those within the organization.
