bones
Bones Knows
Brett Stewart to be the target of revenge slurs by Bulldogs fans
by: By Josh Massoud From: The Daily Telegraph March 11, 2009 12:00AM
Hardcore, resentful Bulldogs fans are planning to make Brett Stewart's nightmare complete by showering him with the same taunts their heroes copped during the Coffs Harbour sex scandal five years ago.
Sections of the Bulldog Army have been buzzing in cyberspace about venting their frustrations at Stewart, who was formally charged with sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl.
Sea Eagles officials emerged from an emergency board meeting to give the full-back the green light to play, just hours after coach Des Hasler picked Stewart for Saturday night's game.
Should he take the field, Stewart can expect the most hostile reception imaginable.
Along with Bulldogs players, supporters were also hit with unfair and derogatory slurs for years after the Coffs Harbour case was closed without any charges being laid.
Having endured those slurs, fanatical Bulldogs fans are viewing the ANZ Stadium clash as an opportunity to exact some revenge.
Posting on popular Bulldogs chat site The Kennel, Dogg Stiel said: "I'm going to act like an animal on Saturday night ... after getting the wooden spoon and years of frustration from the media, I'm going to let out my frustrations."
Top dawg added: "We've copped it for the past six years ... payback is a bitch."
Bulldogs CEO Todd Greenberg issued an urgent plea for his club's fans to spare Stewart from the vile abuse their players copped five years ago.
The prospect of fans abusing Stewart - who has denied the allegations - with unsavoury and foul remarks has been foreshadowed by ANZ Stadium officials.
It was discussed at Tuesday's pre-game briefing with Greenberg and extra security is being considered to monitor what is expected to be a 20,000-plus crowd.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Greenberg issued an urgent plea for calm among the blue and white faithful.
"After a week of negative and divisive media coverage for the game, I encourage all Bulldogs fans to get out to ANZ Stadium on Saturday night and create headlines for the right reasons," Greenberg said.
"Our supporters are conscious of the difficulties and sensitivities involved with off-field allegations.
"All Bulldogs supporters will be acutely aware of the hard work that this club has undertaken in regards to our off-field image and public profile in recent months, the players are doing their bit, and I urge all of our supporters to play their part by acting responsibly and behaving appropriately."
Sections of the Bulldogs fanbase also joined Greenberg to try to convince fellow supporters to turn the other cheek.
"We didn't like it a few years back, let us be the fans who come to the game to support our own players and not the fans that jeer and boo," a supporter called ***mh*** posted on The Kennel.
"We are the better club. Let Manly get into their own trouble, we don't need to go looking for it."
Another supporter, dogkat, agreed, but doubted that some supporters would be able to contain their emotions.
"Well said. I am so over hearing opposition players call our team rapists etc," dogkat wrote.
"But unfortunately I think it would be too much to hope for, that people can hold back from giving him a serve."
An ANZ Stadium spokeswoman confirmed that fans guilty of offensive behaviour would be dealt with.
by: By Josh Massoud From: The Daily Telegraph March 11, 2009 12:00AM
Hardcore, resentful Bulldogs fans are planning to make Brett Stewart's nightmare complete by showering him with the same taunts their heroes copped during the Coffs Harbour sex scandal five years ago.
Sections of the Bulldog Army have been buzzing in cyberspace about venting their frustrations at Stewart, who was formally charged with sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl.
Sea Eagles officials emerged from an emergency board meeting to give the full-back the green light to play, just hours after coach Des Hasler picked Stewart for Saturday night's game.
Should he take the field, Stewart can expect the most hostile reception imaginable.
Along with Bulldogs players, supporters were also hit with unfair and derogatory slurs for years after the Coffs Harbour case was closed without any charges being laid.
Having endured those slurs, fanatical Bulldogs fans are viewing the ANZ Stadium clash as an opportunity to exact some revenge.
Posting on popular Bulldogs chat site The Kennel, Dogg Stiel said: "I'm going to act like an animal on Saturday night ... after getting the wooden spoon and years of frustration from the media, I'm going to let out my frustrations."
Top dawg added: "We've copped it for the past six years ... payback is a bitch."
Bulldogs CEO Todd Greenberg issued an urgent plea for his club's fans to spare Stewart from the vile abuse their players copped five years ago.
The prospect of fans abusing Stewart - who has denied the allegations - with unsavoury and foul remarks has been foreshadowed by ANZ Stadium officials.
It was discussed at Tuesday's pre-game briefing with Greenberg and extra security is being considered to monitor what is expected to be a 20,000-plus crowd.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Greenberg issued an urgent plea for calm among the blue and white faithful.
"After a week of negative and divisive media coverage for the game, I encourage all Bulldogs fans to get out to ANZ Stadium on Saturday night and create headlines for the right reasons," Greenberg said.
"Our supporters are conscious of the difficulties and sensitivities involved with off-field allegations.
"All Bulldogs supporters will be acutely aware of the hard work that this club has undertaken in regards to our off-field image and public profile in recent months, the players are doing their bit, and I urge all of our supporters to play their part by acting responsibly and behaving appropriately."
Sections of the Bulldogs fanbase also joined Greenberg to try to convince fellow supporters to turn the other cheek.
"We didn't like it a few years back, let us be the fans who come to the game to support our own players and not the fans that jeer and boo," a supporter called ***mh*** posted on The Kennel.
"We are the better club. Let Manly get into their own trouble, we don't need to go looking for it."
Another supporter, dogkat, agreed, but doubted that some supporters would be able to contain their emotions.
"Well said. I am so over hearing opposition players call our team rapists etc," dogkat wrote.
"But unfortunately I think it would be too much to hope for, that people can hold back from giving him a serve."
An ANZ Stadium spokeswoman confirmed that fans guilty of offensive behaviour would be dealt with.
