I wish to thank the Western Bulldogs Football Club for providing me the opportunity to coach the Club for three years.

In particular, I would like to acknowledge the support guidance and wisdom of Simon Garlick and Chris Grant, the various members of the Board and notably our past President David Smorgon and Peter Gordon, both proud committed ‘Bulldogs’ people.

It’s a big job being a Senior Coach in an AFL Club, but it’s a brilliant job and it wouldn’t have been possible without great support from staff and players.

The life-blood of a coach is the coaches around him and I have received brilliant help and support from my coaches. They are fantastic footy men who know the game and care for the players.

They mean a great deal to me and I wish them well in their careers.

To our supporters and members in particular – those I have come to know personally – thank you for your patience and emotion. We had some good times, some tough moments and patches where progress seemed slow.

What I would like to reinforce to you is that your Club is in good hands. Management, recruiting, player development, strength and conditioning are resourced, committed and very capable.

Thanks to some inspired selections over the last 4 to 5 years by our recruiting team – the Club is well placed with a brilliant crop of young players. Contrary to public perception, there are also experienced players who love their Club and provide outstanding leadership and direction for their team mates.

I’d also like to acknowledge all of the Club staff (Communications, Fan Development, Events, Commercial Operations, Finance, HR and Executive) for their dedication and hard work – there are a lot of good people at the Club.

It’s a sad man that resigns today, but that’s footy. I leave knowing that I got some things right and got some wrong, but I did my best and gave everything. I guess that is all my parents and family would ever ask. I loved the journey and the challenges and it was only possible because of my great wife, family and friends.

Good Wishes

Brendan McCartney