Mason's $50,000 present
By Josh Massoud
November 15, 2007 12:00am
HE is still waiting to officially farewell the Bulldogs, but Willie Mason has already handed over his parting gift.
And it's hardly a treasured keepsake.
Mason's imminent departure has left the Bulldogs with a $50,000 booby prize in defunct membership brochures for 2008.
As the Bulldogs' most marketable star, Mason was a larger-than-life component of the club's bid to dramatically lift its membership for the centenary season.
His unmistakable frame features prominently on the front cover of a high-quality brochure the club had specially made to promote next year's packages.
The remaining 14 glossy pages carry Mason's hulking image a further five times, making him the most used of all Bulldogs players in the booklet.
The Daily Telegraph understands the Bulldogs had 40,000 copies printed last month - at an estimated cost of $50,000. A special-edition 2008 Bulldogs calendar was also produced. Again, Mason is the front cover's centrepiece.
About a quarter of the brochures were mailed directly to current and prospective members a fortnight ago. The rest are available at the club's administrative office at Belmore and official team store in Bankstown.
The timing couldn't have been worse. No sooner had fans tore open the envelopes, Mason announced he wanted out.
Given the towering prop's cult status among supporters was reflected in his almost omnipotent presence throughout the brochure, many recipients thought twice about parting with their hard earned to sign up. An adult season pass starts at $165, but many are asking whether that price is now justified after the main attraction got cold feet.
The Bulldogs had about 4000 members last year, but realise many more are needed to compensate for a poker machine tax-inflicted drop in Leagues Club revenue. The club has boldly stated it intends to hit the 10,000 mark by 2010 - but it is now a tough ask.
"They will probably be lucky to get as many members this year as last year because of what's happened," a source close to the club said yesterday.
Now lamenting their misfortune, Bulldogs officials have little choice but to stick with the campaign. The club refused to comment yesterday, claiming this issue fell within the no-go-zone surrounding Mason.
The Daily Telegraph understands club officials have reverted to directly calling members, both current and prospective.
Angela Dandachli, the Bulldog Army's spiritual matriarch, yesterday said she had been inundated with questions from disturbed fans about the Mason saga over the past fortnight.
"A lot of them are upset the club is letting Willie go, and they've told me they won't sign up until they know what's happening," she said.
"I've tried to tell them to keep the faith, to stay loyal.
"We all love Willie, but as Malcolm Noad said, no one man is bigger than the club. We should stand by them no matter who the players are."
The Bulldogs' hopes of snaring a replacement for Mason nose-dived yesterday when Andrew Purcell, the manager of Roosters prop David Shillington, confirmed the Queenslander was staying at Bondi Junction.
Shillington had been touted as a possible target for the Roosters to free up their salary cap to accommodate Mason.
But Purcell insisted his charge was "100 per cent playing for the Roosters next season".
"There's been a bit of paper talk and that has gotten a few clubs interested in David," Purcell said. "But his first priority is to see out the final year of his contract with the Roosters and that's where he will be staying."
