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"Got that aura": Bulldogs' chairman reveals details of Crichton extension
Sam Kosack • September 9th, 2025 7:45 pm
Bulldogs chairman Adam Driussi has revealed captain Stephen Crichton’s contract extension is “essentially done” with the captain’s attention focused on the finals.
Crichton confirmed at the Bulldogs’ player of the year competition that he would be signing an extension with the club that is reportedly set to keep him at the club until 2030.
Crichton has been instrumental in the Bulldogs’ transformation as a club, leading the team to finals last season for the first time since 2016.
As the Bulldogs prepare to take on the Storm in a bid to book a home prelim final, Driussi revealed the details of the contract and praised his captain’s attitude.
“We haven't put pen to paper, but that's more a case of, during the finals, we just want to make sure that we've got him focused on playing the game and all that sort of stuff,” Driussi told SEN 1170 Afternoons.
“There’s minor details just to sort out before we actually put the signature on a page but we're essentially done.
“He’s an amazing young man. He's just got a presence about him. It's a hard thing to describe.
“He's just got a calmness about him, and he's just got that aura where I think all of the other guys just look up to him.
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“He's a true modern professional athlete in the way that he prepares and when he joined the club, that was something that we wanted to have other players start emulating and looking up to and we've done that.
“The way he's been leading the guys at training and leading them on the field as well, he's got his own style… but I think with a young modern footballer, he's just an outstanding, outstanding captain and a great human being.”
Along with Crichton, the Bulldogs have also extended GM Phil Gould and coach Cameron Ciraldo until 2031, locking down the core of the kennel for the until the turn of the decade.
Ciraldo has been questioned this year for his decision to parachute in young half Lachlan Galvin over Toby Sexton when the Bulldogs were top of the table as he looked to build the partnership between Burton and Galvin for the future.
However, Driussi revealed the Bulldogs foresee Cameron Ciraldo as a potential 20-year coach for the club, backing his “long-term perspective”, instead of a focus on immediate success.
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“At the time when we recruited Cameron, I remember Gus said to the board and myself, he said, listen, we need, we need a 20-year coach at this club,” Driussi said.
“We need to get a guy that can guide the club long term and create that stability, and we hope that Cameron Ciraldo is the guy.
“He's a great modern coach. He's inquisitive, he wants to keep learning… we just love what he's building.
“He's got defensive systems and a defensive mindset that is second to none, and he's unwavering on culture.
“We've had a lot of players that we've considered bringing to the club where Cameron has meticulously looked into their backgrounds and their personalities to make sure that they'd be a fit for our team and that they'd be a fit for what he's trying to build.
“Particularly after his first year, to be looking to bring a guy to the club and help you get more wins in year two but he's always been very focused on building a club to sustained success.
Driussi believes that between Gould, Ciraldo, and Crichton, the Bulldogs have the right pieces in place to lead their club to their first premiership in over 20 years.
“Between Gus, Ciro (Ciraldo), and Critta (Crichton), I think we've got the right three leaders for the club,” Driussi said.
“We wanted to show everyone at the club… that the group of people that we’ve got at the club today are going to be there long-term.
“I think the three of those committing together, it is a sign that we’re going to keep building on what we’re doing and it gives confidence to all of the other players that we’re not changing anything.
“Gus is passionate about continuing that role… so it was a no-brainer.
“He does so much work behind the scenes that people don’t see every day and he’s been the architect of turning our club around, and he works tirelessly at that, and to be honest we’re still only just starting.”
Jacob Kiraz has also extended with the club until the end of 2028, with Driussi describing the fan-favourite winger as “hugely popular with the playing group, with the supporter base, but a very good player in his own right.”
