Mega Thread General MFC Discussion Part III

[Bluelegs]

Can’t be serious lol

Not sure the confusion here, pretty obvious Goody wasn’t in a great spot end of 2020 after the hub, a failed season and his marriage falling apart. I find it hard to buy the bullying claims when the players have spoken highly of him even during 2019.

Monstrous beatup from muck raker Mick Warner. Like seriously who gives a toss? If this story had any credentials it would have come out early 2021.

Workplace bullying isn't all or nothing. Sometimes people will just go after one or a few co-workers and make their lives a living hell while being pleasant around everyone else. I'm not even saying that's what happened here, but just cause Goodwin get's on with the players doesn't mean this doctor's claims are false. Considering Goodwins well-documented personal issues last year and prior it wouldn't surprise me at all that they came out at work.

If the article is true that we sacked a bloke days after he complained, that is dodgy as.

Pert has always had baggage, his time at Collingwood was hardly perfect and his memo comes off as overly-defensive.

 

[00Stinger]

Workplace bullying isn't all or nothing. Sometimes people will just go after one or a few co-workers and make their lives a living hell while being pleasant around everything else. I'm not even saying that's what happened here, but just cause Goodwin get's on with the players doesn't mean this doctor's claims are false. Considering Goodwins well-documented personal issues last year and prior it wouldn't surprise me at all that they came out at work.

If the article is true that we sacked a bloke days after he complained, that is dodgy as.

Pert has always had baggage, his time at Collingwood was hardly perfect and his memo comes off as overly-defensive.

tbf it is quite common for employees to either go on stress leave or claim bullying when they know they are on the chopping block and look like getting the ass

I've seen it countless time before

 

[Bluelegs]

tbf it is quite common for employees to either go on stress leave or claim bullying when they know they are on the chopping block and look like getting the ass

I've seen it countless time before

It's possible, but it appears the claims were at least valid enough that they caused a conflict at board level, and we were happy to be a quarter million shorter to make the mess go away.

 

[00Stinger]

It's possible, but it appears the claims were at least valid enough that they caused a conflict at board level, and we were happy to be a quarter million shorter to make the mess go away.

they payout wasn't confirmed as being $250k though, was it?

I thought that is what he was suing for an a settlement was agreed

It's tricky too, as would the club want to fight a claim that they don't feel is accurate when that could cause a PR disaster and media storm on the cusp of a very important season?

Sometimes it's easier just to come to an agreement and settle quietly.

 

[KickLongTackleHard]

The club openly blamed injuries and so many offseason surgeries for the train wreck 2019 season which nearly cost Goodwin his job. Makes sense for there to be tension and incompetent performance.

 

[Bluelegs]

they payout wasn't confirmed as being $250k though, was it?

I thought that is what he was suing for an a settlement was agreed

It's tricky too, as would the club want to fight a claim that they don't feel is accurate when that could cause a PR disaster and media storm on the cusp of a very important season?

Sometimes it's easier just to come to an agreement and settle quietly.

Yeah sorry, not necessarily $250k but the article says the payout was 6 figures, that's still a fair pay-day.

I get that argument but you don't pay that much just to get rid of someone if they're making totally unfounded claims. We didn't do that for Lumumba when he made his ridiculous claims about not getting a game because of his injury management.

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. I just don't think we should be writing it off as a beat-up just yet.

 

[00Stinger]

Yeah sorry, not necessarily $250k but the article says the payout was 6 figures, that's still a fair pay-day.

I get that argument but you don't pay that much just to get rid of someone if they're making totally unfounded claims. We didn't do that for Lumumba when he made his ridiculous claims about not getting a game because of his injury management.

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. I just don't think we should be writing it off as a beat-up just yet.

Lumumba had said so many outrageous things before that the club would have known that he lacked credibility in the publics eye. Plus we were shit at the time so his claims could hardly derail anything

I'm a bit dismissive of the report by the hun because what is the point they are trying to make? Is it Goodwin having drinking issues? Is it Goodwin having gambling issues? Is it Goodwin being a bully to one ex staff member? Is it Pert? Is it Bartlett?

Seems to me like Warner trying to connect a lot of dots, maybe being connected to the board elections possibly

 

[stEdy]

Interested to know how much of the injury crisis sat with Misson and how much with Dr Arain.

We got rid of both of them, regardless. But didn't we heap all of the blame on Misson? Will probably never know, but would be interesting to know the role split between high performance and club doctor in managing players injuries.

 

[Dory_77]

I'm a bit dismissive of the report by the hun because what is the point they are trying to make? Is it Goodwin having drinking issues? Is it Goodwin having gambling issues? Is it Goodwin being a bully to one ex staff member? Is it Pert? Is it Bartlett?

Seems to me like Warner trying to connect a lot of dots, maybe being connected to the board elections possibly

All of the above, it seems. Much like Hardwick's affair last off-season sold papers and filled shows, this seems as much about dropping a bomb to get attention.
It makes me question some of the boardroom wheeling and dealing (which might be why it's all dropping now with the election so soon). Bartlett's removal was never really explained in much detail but everyone seemed to move on quickly. I think Goody's issues with the punt are pretty well documented so nothing new there tbh. The bullying claim is a concern but if it's been settled I don't know how much more traction that can get, although it seems we were going to do an internal review that might not have actually happened/gone anywhere?
From a cUlChA perspective it looks bad and could create a distraction for the club.

 

[Bluelegs]

On the bright side this means we get fresh talkback about our premiership success.

 

[Jamurp]

Goody should come out with more of this stuff in response.

 

[PerfectFooty]

If Gil was really upset about punting and drinking, Maybe he'd not fill the AFL with Gambling and Alcohol Sponserships

 

[Gysberts2Bate]

I find it hard to buy the bullying claims when the players have spoken highly of him even during 2019.

I’m sorry but this is a bit naive I think, it’s very easy for someone in a position of power to treat the players well and then punch down on non-footy staff members etc and for the two things to never intersect. In fact I’d say it’s normal in almost every kind of organisation.

 

[rhaz]

The AFL and AFL media tries to pretend they care about mental health etc., but then will happily just report on crap that happened years ago, without then also giving credit to Goodwin for clearly getting his life together and leading a club to end the longest premiership drought in the AFL.

This is clearly going to be hurtful for Goodwin and can surely only harm to his mental state.

It's pathetic from journalists and the AFL.

 

[schmuttt]

I’m sorry but this is a bit naive I think, it’s very easy for someone in a position of power to treat the players well and then punch down on non-footy staff members etc and for the two things to never intersect. In fact I’d say it’s normal in almost every kind of organisation.

Yes we've got one disgruntled ex employee Goodwin must be a monster behind the scenes.

If his behavior was a genuine problem the club would have turfed him, except they got rid of the club doctor (Including a six figure payout) and Bartlett instead. Coming into this year his job was on a knifes edge, you really think poor behavior from him would have been glossed over and we'd willingly sack other people instead?

 

[Proper Gander]

I’m sorry but this is a bit naive I think, it’s very easy for someone in a position of power to treat the players well and then punch down on non-footy staff members etc and for the two things to never intersect. In fact I’d say it’s normal in almost every kind of organisation.

On the other hand, I don’t think I’ve had a workplace without some level of interpersonal issues between some staff. The feeling of bullying can arise from very shit treatment, but can also grow from the individual fragility of the person who feels wronged at a particular time. It’s impossible to tell from the article what really occurred

 

[Bluelegs]

On the other hand, I don’t think I’ve had a workplace without some level of interpersonal issues between some staff. The feeling of bullying can arise from very sh*t treatment, but can also grow from the individual fragility of the person who feels wronged at a particular time. It’s impossible to tell from the article what really occurred

I get that I just think regardless of PR you don't pay someone $100k+ for a bit of a tif at work.

 

[Proper Gander]

I get that I just think regardless of PR you don't pay someone $100k+ for a bit of a tif at work.

No. You're right. Something or other happened, or a series of things over time.

It's no real secret that Goodwin has struggled with anxiety and some possibly related behavioural issues. And like anyone under stress, it seems feasible that the result of the stress was his putting pressures on those down from him / around him. This kind of thing happens at most places at some point in time - but the issue is often a combination of what might seem unreasonable demands from one person being interpreted more badly then intended where the recipient has their own set of issues.

Who knows? I do somewhat distrust the part of the article that implies that this dismissal came only as a result of the Doctor submitting a complaint though.

 

[Toump Ass]

FWIW The $250k figure came from the article- this was how much the doctor was suing us for I think. Given we agreed to a settlement it was probably less that we paid out.

"Aggressive tone" sounds like bullshit to me tbh, I've been dragged into HR for the same shit and I'm not aggressive, I just sometimes find it hard to pretend to not to hate the incompetent ****wits I have to work with.

 

[Dory_77]

It suggests that Bartlett wanted an investigation/review of the complaint but doesn't seem like that ever happened. I'd be a bit concerned if that was totally fobbed off, although I assume the club will put out a statement soon clearing things up a bit (hopefully).

 

[Toump Ass]

I assume the club will put out a statement soon clearing things up a bit

Agree, I just hope the statement is a picture of Goodwin holding the cup and a link to our premiership merchandise.

 

[Proper Gander]

FWIW The $250k figure came from the article- this was how much the doctor was suing us for I think. Given we agreed to a settlement it was probably less that we paid out.

"Aggressive tone" sounds like bullshit to me tbh, I've been dragged into HR for the same sh*t and I'm not aggressive, I just sometimes find it hard to pretend to not to hate the incompetent *******s I have to work with.

I feel akin to both you and (it seems) Simon Goodwin in this regard

 

[Lampers]

On the other hand, I don’t think I’ve had a workplace without some level of interpersonal issues between some staff. The feeling of bullying can arise from very sh*t treatment, but can also grow from the individual fragility of the person who feels wronged at a particular time. It’s impossible to tell from the article what really occurred

I’ve seen separate accusations of bullying and racism in the work place, thankfully neither against me. Having worked with all four parties involved I can safely say the complainant was in deflection/“it’s not me” mode given in each instance the complaint only happened when heat started to come on questioning their performance from the accused.

That’s not to say these sorts of things don’t happen, of course they do, but the picture is generally much more nuanced than what you can pick up from some quotes in a newspaper.

Footy clubs are weird places and “loose” behaviour is tolerated from those with support, so long as they are delivering, more than you’d see in a more regular workplace these days. “Copping a spray” is part of being a footballer, they expect it, but doing the same to a non footballer would be received very differently.

 

[MAXIMUM GRUNDAGE]

Whatever Goodwin did, it worked.

The gambling and drinking with the players was all part of the "learnings".

No issue there, as long as hes not punting on AFL matches again.

 

[danster168]

no matter which way it's sliced to treat a doctor who has spent 8 years at the club and then sack him unfairly is a bloody disgrace.