sainter
20 Dec 2001, 23:00
The expected fireworks didn't eventuate at the Moorabbin Town Hall tonight.
Proceedings began with the election to replace the two retiring board members. The two candidates endorsed by the St Kilda board, Glen Casy and John Gdanski, were up against the controversial Scott Denison. However it was over within minutes. A count of the proxy votes had the two endorsed candidates at over 1600 votes to Denison on a touch over 300. With only 800 - 1000 people on hand and eligible to vote, it was not possible for Denison to pass either of the other two candidates. Those of us present were still given the opportunity to have our say by raising our voting slips. Denison had a few supporters was easily defeated.
Rod Butterss addressed the crowd and spoke about our financial performance in 2001. He confirmed that the club had posted a trading loss of over $750 000. Approximately $400 000 of this had come directly from injury payments that needed to be paid to many of our higher paid players. We also had to cope with a significant reduction in the amount of money given by the AFL over the move away from Waverley.
Next it was the turn of CEO Brian Waldron to address the crowd. He really impressed me with his attitude and outlook on our situation. He explained the three year strategic plan that the club will be following to increase our revenue and ensure our financial stability. Brian also spoke about the goals that have been set to get the most out of our players, including player development and facilities. His explaination of our decision to not draft Lockett was short and sharp - "He didn't want to come our club.....He didn't meet the criteria". According to Waldron the decision to abstain from selecting any players in the pre season draft was a clear indication that the club would be adhering to the strict criteria now in place. That is, that the player would have to give the club at least 5 years and 100 games service. For that reason, he also said that the decision to select Mark Gale and Robbie Powell was wrong and he won't go down that track again.
The next part of the meeting was the moment a lot of us had looked forward to and that was meeting our players. Each of our new recruits were invited on stage to the applause of the crowd. It was clear that the club are very excited with Luke Ball and Xavier Clarke in particular. While the more cynical amongst us might think it's easy to say now, the football club were quite shocked that Luke Ball wasn't taken at #1 and would have been chosen by us if we had that selection.
After the players were introduced it was the chance for our assistant coaches to be welcomed to the club. As Grant Thomas would later say, Port were "pissed off" to lose Matt Rendell and he is considered one of the better tacticians in the league. Dean Wallis impressed Grant Thomas and Brian Waldron remarkably in their interview. It was no surprise that Essendon fought hard to retain him and Mick Malthouse was interested. And in what easily the loudest and best ovation of the night, Ken Sheldon was welcomed back to the St Kilda Football Club. He seemed to be genuinely excited at the reaction from the saints faithful. According to Grant Thomas, Bomba has the hardest job of all the staff including himself, as both the coach of Springvale and the St Kilda coaching staff. Finally Grant was welcolmed to the stage. He is a very good public speaker and spoke for about 10 minutes discussing where he sees the St Kilda Football Club heading and how happy he has been with the enthusiasm of the players thus far.
Hmmmmm, I didn't mean for this post to drag on for so long. ;)
Anyway, the second last stage of the night was the awarding of life memberships. The first recipient was a woman that has done plenty for the St Kilda Football Club. Both through her work in the Angels Fundraising Committee raising money for the club and as a radio listener where the familiar phrase of "The next caller is Ivy from Port Melbourne" is likely to be heard the second a Neil Mitchell or Rex Hunt criticises the club or players. ;) She was introduced by her Grandson and current saints player Brett Moyle. Congratulations Ivy Moyle.
The second life membership was awarded to Andrew Turner. He has been a statisitican for a long time and has not missed a saints game in decades.
The third life membership was awarded to a familiar and well known saints supporter. Yes, the music guru himself, Molly Meldrum. :D He was introduced by good friend Michael Gudinski. As most people would know Molly was in the cheersquad for a very long time and infamously fainted during the last minute of the 1966 Grand Final. He said to the audience that he had won plenty of awards but this achievement was the best thing he'll ever get.
The final life membership was awarded to Justin Peckett. Presented to him by good friend Nathan Burke, Frankie was brutally honest in his speech. As a lifelong St Kilda supporter it was his dream to play for the club. However he acknowledged that he had not always given it his best shot and was regrettful for some of the off-field incidents that had happened from time to time during his career. He said looking at the young draftees on stage will serve as a kind of inspiration to ensure that they don't make the same mistakes he had made.
The final part of the AGM consisted of general question of the crowd. Like the election, this had the potential to have some fireworks but it was fairly tame. One supporter was very angry with the continual bagging of the club by Rex Hunt and his tiresome campagin of implicating current players in Stan Alves' sacking. The club said they would look at forging a better relationship with fellow past players and keep them updated with what is happening. Just briefly, the alliance with Monash University will be continued, the new major sponsor was announced and a PR consultant has been hired to address many problems, including the saga of Caroline Wilson being 100% in the know of everything that seems to be happening through a source at the club.
The night finished with Molly leading the audience in a version of "When The Saints Go Marching In"
After all that typing I'm tired and might go to bed! :D
Proceedings began with the election to replace the two retiring board members. The two candidates endorsed by the St Kilda board, Glen Casy and John Gdanski, were up against the controversial Scott Denison. However it was over within minutes. A count of the proxy votes had the two endorsed candidates at over 1600 votes to Denison on a touch over 300. With only 800 - 1000 people on hand and eligible to vote, it was not possible for Denison to pass either of the other two candidates. Those of us present were still given the opportunity to have our say by raising our voting slips. Denison had a few supporters was easily defeated.
Rod Butterss addressed the crowd and spoke about our financial performance in 2001. He confirmed that the club had posted a trading loss of over $750 000. Approximately $400 000 of this had come directly from injury payments that needed to be paid to many of our higher paid players. We also had to cope with a significant reduction in the amount of money given by the AFL over the move away from Waverley.
Next it was the turn of CEO Brian Waldron to address the crowd. He really impressed me with his attitude and outlook on our situation. He explained the three year strategic plan that the club will be following to increase our revenue and ensure our financial stability. Brian also spoke about the goals that have been set to get the most out of our players, including player development and facilities. His explaination of our decision to not draft Lockett was short and sharp - "He didn't want to come our club.....He didn't meet the criteria". According to Waldron the decision to abstain from selecting any players in the pre season draft was a clear indication that the club would be adhering to the strict criteria now in place. That is, that the player would have to give the club at least 5 years and 100 games service. For that reason, he also said that the decision to select Mark Gale and Robbie Powell was wrong and he won't go down that track again.
The next part of the meeting was the moment a lot of us had looked forward to and that was meeting our players. Each of our new recruits were invited on stage to the applause of the crowd. It was clear that the club are very excited with Luke Ball and Xavier Clarke in particular. While the more cynical amongst us might think it's easy to say now, the football club were quite shocked that Luke Ball wasn't taken at #1 and would have been chosen by us if we had that selection.
After the players were introduced it was the chance for our assistant coaches to be welcomed to the club. As Grant Thomas would later say, Port were "pissed off" to lose Matt Rendell and he is considered one of the better tacticians in the league. Dean Wallis impressed Grant Thomas and Brian Waldron remarkably in their interview. It was no surprise that Essendon fought hard to retain him and Mick Malthouse was interested. And in what easily the loudest and best ovation of the night, Ken Sheldon was welcomed back to the St Kilda Football Club. He seemed to be genuinely excited at the reaction from the saints faithful. According to Grant Thomas, Bomba has the hardest job of all the staff including himself, as both the coach of Springvale and the St Kilda coaching staff. Finally Grant was welcolmed to the stage. He is a very good public speaker and spoke for about 10 minutes discussing where he sees the St Kilda Football Club heading and how happy he has been with the enthusiasm of the players thus far.
Hmmmmm, I didn't mean for this post to drag on for so long. ;)
Anyway, the second last stage of the night was the awarding of life memberships. The first recipient was a woman that has done plenty for the St Kilda Football Club. Both through her work in the Angels Fundraising Committee raising money for the club and as a radio listener where the familiar phrase of "The next caller is Ivy from Port Melbourne" is likely to be heard the second a Neil Mitchell or Rex Hunt criticises the club or players. ;) She was introduced by her Grandson and current saints player Brett Moyle. Congratulations Ivy Moyle.
The second life membership was awarded to Andrew Turner. He has been a statisitican for a long time and has not missed a saints game in decades.
The third life membership was awarded to a familiar and well known saints supporter. Yes, the music guru himself, Molly Meldrum. :D He was introduced by good friend Michael Gudinski. As most people would know Molly was in the cheersquad for a very long time and infamously fainted during the last minute of the 1966 Grand Final. He said to the audience that he had won plenty of awards but this achievement was the best thing he'll ever get.
The final life membership was awarded to Justin Peckett. Presented to him by good friend Nathan Burke, Frankie was brutally honest in his speech. As a lifelong St Kilda supporter it was his dream to play for the club. However he acknowledged that he had not always given it his best shot and was regrettful for some of the off-field incidents that had happened from time to time during his career. He said looking at the young draftees on stage will serve as a kind of inspiration to ensure that they don't make the same mistakes he had made.
The final part of the AGM consisted of general question of the crowd. Like the election, this had the potential to have some fireworks but it was fairly tame. One supporter was very angry with the continual bagging of the club by Rex Hunt and his tiresome campagin of implicating current players in Stan Alves' sacking. The club said they would look at forging a better relationship with fellow past players and keep them updated with what is happening. Just briefly, the alliance with Monash University will be continued, the new major sponsor was announced and a PR consultant has been hired to address many problems, including the saga of Caroline Wilson being 100% in the know of everything that seems to be happening through a source at the club.
The night finished with Molly leading the audience in a version of "When The Saints Go Marching In"
After all that typing I'm tired and might go to bed! :D