Print this pageThe Central District Football Club is being bombarded with hate mail from fans despite threatening the Port Adelaide Magpies' record for most premierships in a decade. The Bulldogs have won six of the past eight flags - one shy of the Magpies' seven premierships from 1950-59.
It is an incredible feat Bulldogs general manager Kris Grant claims is unlikely to be achieved again. But SANFL fans have swamped the club in a reaction to the club's indifferent 2008 season in which the Bulldogs have lost six games and struggled to duplicate the form which swept them to last year's title.
Coach Roy Laird and Chris and James Gowans are the targets for most of the letters while 20 have been sent to co-captain Matthew Slade.
Last week a package containing flour was sent to the Gowans' brothers with the message: "Here is some self-raising flour to make 21 cream puffs".
It is believed the flour was sent from a fan of a rival club.
"Some of the mail is from our supporters but there is plenty from rival fans," Grant said.
"Some of the mail frustrates Roy and the players - they are not going to win every game.
"It is disappointing to think we have got supporters who will bag the players. Some of the letters have even come in when we have won, but not won well.
"Combined with a small drop in our crowd figures this year, it seems to show an apathy from supporters. We need them all behind us on Sunday when we meet Sturt in the qualifying final.
"The fans' expectations are a lot higher these days. But I don't think what we have done (six flags in the past eight years) will be repeated. Football is a lot different these days - the players train harder and the mental strain is much more." Laird has coached the club to four titles in the past five years while the Gowans brothers and Slade are the only Bulldogs to have played in all six grand final victories.
Chris Gowans, who like his brother James is well-known for his banter with the crowd, is unperturbed by the letters although he has used them for motivation in some games.
"I just laugh at most of the mail," Chris said. "These people obviously have too much time on their hands."
"I'm not sure how someone could write a four-page letter saying how much they hate us. The ones which come from our supporters are worse, like they are not happy.
"They are there for the good times but there will also be bad times. They are not real supporters."
With the finals starting this weekend, Chris said there was a "good buzz" at training on Monday night.
Courtesy of The Advertiser