But throughout all that glorious blood- and sweat-soaked history that has yielded eight premierships, this club has always been and always will be "The Family Club".

Oh, and it's a family all right: back-biting, finger-pointing, factions, cliques, nasty rumours and innuendo. Pretty much sounds like most families I know.

This family is ripping into each other like it's late on Christmas Day, with chairman Ray Dib and the incumbent directors under siege before the February 11 board elections from a powerful faction that includes former premiership-winning internationals Chris Anderson, Steve Price and Paul Dunn.

The "Reform" ticket also includes Lynne Anderson, a very smart operator who is chief executive of the Paralympic Committee and the daughter of the late club patriarch Peter "Bullfrog" Moore.

On Wednesday, the Reform ticket released a lengthy statement making the astonishing claim they had been "informed by credible sources" that the "current regime" had hired a PR firm "to dig dirt" about them. It warned them against "dragging the club into the gutter".

Alas, none of those on the Reform ticket contacted would elaborate on these stunning allegations. Nothing. Not a word.

In doing so, the whole thing looked like a cheap stunt. You make claims like that, you cough up some details.

Said one Herald reader: "'We have been informed by several credible and respected sources' is a meaningless statement unless backed up with facts. If these facts are not available, and this is merely based on Chinese whispers, then the Reform ticket are the ones dragging the club into the gutter not Ray Dib."

Accusations of a dirty tricks campaign certainly don't line up with the email Dib sent to the entire Bulldogs staff on Wednesday morning, telling them to vote for whoever they want.

"I think it's important for me to say on behalf of the current board that the elections will run independently with all staff that are voting members having the democratic right to vote whichever way they choose," Dib advised. "The board is extremely aware that elections can create unease at clubs, particularly amongst staff working on a day-to-day basis. As such, we absolutely respect an individuals' right to vote for whichever candidate they choose, with total confidentiality."

Given the events of the past couple of years, the members have every right to ask serious questions of Dib and his board.

Coach Des Hasler was re-signed then sacked in the same year. He's taking the club to court. A directions hearing is set down for the Supreme Court for February 2 but the matter won't be resolved until after the election.

Favourite sons Josh Reynolds and James Graham were released so prop Aaron Woods could be signed on big dollars, as well as Kieran Foran, a troubled soul who has been plagued with injuries.

Dean Pay has been appointed as coach, and the word is the squad is tearing up pre-season training, but members have every right to ask why the current board has the right to see these changes through.

Despite this, a complete overhaul of the board would be a disaster. Such sweeping change would set the club back years. There's also suspicion about the Reform ticket's motives with some believing the real end-game is to take control of the ridiculously profitable Canterbury Leagues Club.

If the rebel ticket can get four directors onto the football club board, they will hold the balance of power. That means they can vote themselves onto the leagues club board, as per the club's constitution.

There's a distinct possibility, like most club elections, that the seven-member board will be split, and if that's the case former director Anthony Elias becomes an interesting character. He resigned from the board late last year but wants to be elected again, as an independent. He could be Switzerland between two warring factions. It's all great theatre for those of us watching in the cheap seats. What's the old saying? You can choose your friends but not your family. In this instance, though, Bulldogs members can.

Transition troubles

Channel Nine this week confirmed Fairfax Media's story from last year about Erin Molan replacing long-time host Paul Vautin on The Footy Show - but there's already a hitch.

Molan is pregnant and due to give birth to her first child in June. Producers are still uncertain about who will fill in.

The rebooted show will have a much heavier focus on rugby league, which it desperately needs. Darryl Brohman won't be on the panel but will have pre-recorded segments, as will Beau Ryan.

Both of them had initially been told they were being cut altogether but when the media release dropped revealing they would be staying, Ryan posted on Instagram a screenshot of him and Brohman.

The caption: "We can cancel our Centrelink payments, bro".

Smith sighted in Sydney

SPOTTED: Hollywood actor Will Smith standing in the middle of Allianz Stadium last Sunday morning.

No, he didn't want to wade into the great stadium debate that's rocking the city to the core of its foundations.

He wanted some privacy as he took part in a Welcome to Country ceremony. It was arranged by former Roosters chief operating officer Ted Helliar, who knows Smith through a family connection.

Later, Smith and his entourage were seen scouring the streets of Paddington for the drone he used to film the ceremony. The wind had taken hold of it. Try kicking sideline conversions to win the Anzac Day game, Will.

Smith also this week pleaded with NBA fans to ensure Philadelphia 76ers star rookie Ben Simmons becomes the first Australian voted into the All-Star Game on February 20.

The Hollywood actor is a minority owner in the 76ers. Simmons finds out if he's in at 10am AEDT on Friday.

Court's views are rancid prejudice

I couldn't care less if Margaret Court Arena remains named after Australia's greatest women's tennis player who also happens to make bigoted, homophobic remarks.

Court's great rival from the 1970s, American Billie Jean King, has again called for it to be renamed because of Court's diatribes about homosexuality and same-sex marriage.

Call for change: Billie Jean King at the media conference where she again called for Margaret Court Arena to be renamed. Photo: AAP

It's a tricky one.

I don't buy into the well-worn line about sportspeople being judged purely on their "sporting achievements". Remember, it was Court who was using her profile as a former champion to call for a boycott of Qantas because of its support for marriage equality. You can't have it both ways.

Yet it becomes quite problematic when you want to start ripping names off stadiums. Sir Donald Bradman's anti-Catholic views were quite strong and angered many. Do we start renaming all he stadia named in his honour?

Thaaaaaaat said ...

King is spot on when she says "if you were talking about Indigenous people, Jews or any other people, I can't imagine the public would want somebody to have their name on something".

Let's be really clear here. Court said homosexuality was nothing more than "the lust for flesh", "all the work of the devil". And then the most infuriating claim: that the LGBTI community tries to groom and indoctrinate young'uns to come join them, like it's some kind of cult.

"That's what Hitler did," she has said. "That's what communism did: get in the minds of the children. There's a whole plot in our nation and in the nations of the world to get in the minds of the children."

That's not an opinion. That's not a political viewpoint. That's rancid prejudice. She should hang her head in shame.

If such comments were made about women or Indigenous Australians or many other minorities, the wider community would be calling for Margaret Court Arena to be burned to the ground.

Horn not on the horizon for Mundine

Like many, I once respected Anthony Mundine and what he stood for.

Now, it's quite sad to see him become a sideshow: both in the ring and then with his divisive comments out of it.

He called out Brisbane world champion Jeff Horn after knocking out Tommy Browne to claim the vacant WBO Oriental middleweight title. Earlier in the week, he said Horn had only had the success he'd enjoyed because he was a "white boy".

Yeah, nah, nah??? Horn-Mundine won't be happening anytime soon.

Horn's promoter, Dean Lonergan from Duco Events, says a bout with arguably the world's best pound-for-pound fighter right now, Terence Crawford, is on the horizon with Manny Pacquiao possibly making his return to ring on the same card against Vasyl Lomachenko.

"Right now, we're focused on fighting Terence Crawford at Madison Square Garden in New York or T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in a double-header with Manny Pacquiao," Lonergan told us. "If Jeff wins that, he's on his way to conquering the American market. So right now, not much interest???"

So, no, lining Anthony Mundine's pockets is not immediately on Horn's agenda.

Thou shalt not pass: Sydney FC keeper Andrew Redmayne. Photo: AAP

Q&A: ANDREW REDMAYNE

We speak to the Sydney FC keeper ahead of the A-League clash with the Central Coast at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.

How are you?

I just got off the massage table.

How was it?

It hurt. They can find a spot, that's for sure.

You guys are flying at the moment. Is Graham Arnold in a good mood?

[Laughs] No, he's probably crankier. He wants to keep the standards high. We haven't achieved anything yet. Pedal to the metal.

You've only conceded 12 goals for the season. That's telling.

Pretty happy with that. It's eight clean sheets now. Central Coast will be difficult. They're a fast, pacey outfit. They're always lively and dangerous.

I'm told you are also studying to be a primary school teacher.

It's a family business. Mum was a teacher. Dad was a teacher. Aunties, uncles, cousins ... there are nine in total. They can all help with the study because they've done it before.

You trialled with Arsenal when you were 15, and Arsene Wenger has said they should've signed you, but you're also a fan.

I did a tour of the Emirates in the off-season. We didn't see a game - just a tour. I was in London with my fiancee and we had a morning off. I said, let's get the tube there and have a tour. It was amazing. Stunning ground. I had a tour of Highbury when they had their last year there.

What about how Arsenal are going this year?

[Laughs] Yes, it's been a bit rough to be a supporter. They're still a fantastic club that holds the same values and morals that you admire in a team.

You sound like every Arsenal supporter I know.

I know.

THE QUOTE

"Oh my ??? You ??? That's unbeliev ??? That's unbelievable ??? I'm, like, I'm happy. I was sad. Now? Ooooohhhh WOOOOW! I ??? God ??? Oh my goodness. I'm ??? I'm shocked. I don't know what else to say. It's unbelievable." - Defensive end Everson Griffen's post-match interview after the Minnesota Vikings beat New Orleans on the final play said it all.

THUMBS UP

How good is this country, this life, this existence sitting on the couch of a balmy evening at this time of year? Grand slam tennis on one channel; cricket on two others; some A-League football; an exciting 11-race program at Dubbo greyhounds. What a time to be alive.

THUMBS DOWN

When Australian cricketers Shaun Marsh and Jackson Bird were slammed last week for smoking during post-Ashes celebrations at the Coogee Pavilion, I assumed they must've been smoking the old electric cabbage. But no: just cigarettes. In private. In their own time ??? Anti-smoking crusaders need to pick better targets than papped cricketers on a day off.

IT'S A BIG WEEKEND FOR ???

Australia when they meet England at the Gabba in the second one-dayer of a five-match series. "We're looking to go big in this series," promised Jason Roy after the Poms' big win at the MCG. It's a creed to for all of us to live by: go big or go home.

IT'S AN EVEN BIGGER WEEKEND FOR ???

Nick Kyrgios. Things become much tougher in this Australian Open when he meets 15th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the third round on Friday. Kyrgios was quite Zen in his win over Viktor Troicki, refusing to completely lose his rag when being heckled, a helicopter hovering overhead and the umpire's microphone faltering.