Phil Gould recently shared that he turned down the Bulldogs’ approach “three or four” times in the mid-2010s, believing he wasn’t the solution to the club’s challenges.
Speaking on Triple M’s Footy Talk, Gould revealed that prior to accepting his current role, he had been approached multiple times by the club, even being offered a coaching position. Gould rejoined the Bulldogs in 2021 as general manager of football, decades after his initial stint in the late 1980s.
The 66-year-old explained that his initial refusals weren’t due to a lack of loyalty or commitment to the club but rather a sense of uncertainty about his ability to make a meaningful impact. He admitted, “I didn’t know if I could fix it or stabilize it.”
When Gould took the role, the Bulldogs were in their worst stretch in years, having missed the finals since 2016 and finishing at the bottom of the ladder in 2020. According to Gould, the club had endured a turbulent phase, marked by boardroom conflicts and numerous changes in leadership and coaching.
Despite a rocky start, Gould’s leadership saw the Bulldogs return to the finals in 2024 after nearly a decade. The team’s turnaround came under head coach Cameron Ciraldo, whose appointment was initially met with skepticism but ultimately validated as the Bulldogs placed sixth.
One of the most challenging aspects of Gould’s job has been having difficult conversations with players who have dedicated years to the club but don’t make the cut. He described these moments as the hardest part of his role, acknowledging the sacrifices players make only to face tough news.