Club Mgmt. Board of Directors as led by President Dave Barham - Statement from Barham addressing Merrett etc - 12/9

[Lore]

Spoiler: Timeline of events

• 15/8: President, Paul Brasher resigns, replaced by Dave Barham who foreshadows external review
  • Votes for Brasher: Peter Allen, Simon Madden, Sean Wellman
    Sean Wellman

    Age

    51

    Ht

    193cm

    Wt

    90kg

    Pos.

    Def

    Career

    Season

    Last 5

    D

    14.1

    4star

    K

    9.7

    4star

    HB

    4.5

    3star

    M

    4.5

    4star

    T

    1.0

    3star

    No current season stats available

    D

    8.0

    2star

    K

    4.4

    2star

    HB

    3.6

    3star

    M

    2.6

    3star

    T

    0.8

    3star

  • Votes for Barham: Andrew Muir, Dorothy Hisgrove, Melissa Green, Kate O’Sullivan, Kevin Sheedy
• 21/8: Senior Coach, Ben Rutten
  Ben Rutten

  Age

  42

  Ht

  190cm

  Wt

  98kg

  Pos.

  Def

  Career

  Season

  Last 5

  D

  13.4

  3star

  K

  6.3

  2star

  HB

  7.0

  4star

  M

  5.3

  5star

  T

  1.3

  3star

  No current season stats available

  D

  10.6

  3star

  K

  6.2

  3star

  HB

  4.4

  4star

  M

  3.6

  4star

  T

  1.0

  3star

  sacked
• 24/8: CEO, Xavier Campbell resigns
• 24/8: Directors to resign
  • Paul Brasher, immediately
  • Simon Madden, immediately
  • Sean Wellman, after new football director is appointed
  • Peter Allen, after AGM & finance portfolio handover in December
• 26/8: Details of coaching selection committee appointment
  • Sub-committee of 6: Josh Mahoney
    Josh Mahoney

    Age

    48

    Ht

    180cm

    Wt

    83kg

    Pos.

    Fwd

    Career

    Season

    Last 5

    D

    11.3

    3star

    K

    6.8

    3star

    HB

    4.5

    3star

    M

    3.5

    4star

    T

    1.6

    4star

    G

    0.9

    4star

    No current season stats available

    D

    9.2

    3star

    K

    5.4

    2star

    HB

    3.8

    3star

    M

    2.2

    3star

    T

    1.6

    4star

    G

    0.4

    3star

    (Chair, GM-Footy), Robert Walls, Jordan Lewis
    Jordan Lewis

    Age

    39

    Ht

    186cm

    Wt

    86kg

    Pos.

    D/M

    Career

    Season

    Last 5

    D

    23.5

    5star

    K

    12.1

    4star

    HB

    11.5

    5star

    M

    5.5

    5star

    T

    2.7

    4star

    MG

    310.5

    4star

    No current season stats available

    D

    15.0

    4star

    K

    6.8

    3star

    HB

    8.2

    5star

    M

    4.8

    5star

    T

    2.8

    5star

    , Simone McKinnis OAM, Andrew Thorburn and Dorothy Hisgrove (board member).
• 26/8: Details of external review process
  • Ernst & Young to coordinate with support from Andrew Thorburn, working closely with Nick Ryan (Acting CEO) & Dorothy Hisgrove (board member)
  • Focusing on four areas: (1) Board effectiveness & composition, (2) a review of leadership, operations and culture including the footy department, (3) the senior coach appointment and (4) the new CEO appointment.
• 26/9: Andrew Welsh appointed to the board of directors, replacing Simon Madden
• 29/9: Brad Scott appointed as Senior Coach
• 30/9: Kevin Sheedy claims decision to appoint Brad Scott was 6-1 against him
• 3/10: Andrew Thorburn appointed as CEO - alternative link
• 3/10: “External review to be handed to the board next week”: Andrew Thorburn, Crichton Medal Address
• 4/10: Andrew Thorburn resigns as CEO
• 11/10: External review preliminary findings
• 24/10: External review preliminary findings II
• 2/11: Dan McPherson appointed as General Manager of Performance & Cam Roberts as Head of Development
• 11/11: Dean Rioli appointed to the board of directors, replacing Paul Brasher
• 14/11: Tim Roberts & David Wills appointed to the board of directors, replacing Sean Wellman and Paul Allen respectively
• 28/11: Dorothy Hisgrove announced as first female vice-president (at the Essendon Women's Best and Fairest night)
• 1/12: Craig Vozzo appointed as CEO
• 13/12: Board director election results: Andrew Welsh and Andrew Muir elected
• 15/5: The club's First Nations Advisory Council established, to be led by Dean Rioli (chair, Indigenous board member), and including: Leanne Brooke (EFC EGM – Community & The Long Walk. Essendon FC), Dorothy Hisgrove (EFC VP and National Manager Partner KPMG), Kane Ellis (CEO of Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service), John Evans (Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Engagement at Swinburne) and Che Cockatoo-Collins (EM, Indigenous Affairs NBN, EFC Past Player)
• 16/5: Board of Directors declare support for the First Nations Voice to Parliament, after consultation with the new First Nations Advisory Council
• 28/8: EGM - Football, Josh Mahoney has accepted a role as GM Football Operations at the AFL
• 10/10: GM - Performance Daniel McPherson, and Head of AFLW/AFL Operations Manager Aysha Ward have been elevated to the club executive as joint leaders of the club's football department, as GM-AFL and GM-AFLW respectively

 

[Lore]

It looks like the senior candidates will vet themselves as they clearly know what the club is cooking up. Nobody wants to he the 2022 Choco.

And they’ve got enough money mostly not to be scrambling for any old job that will destroy their reputation and probably their mental health.

Which leaves the more junior candidates to try and unify this dogs breakfast… which would be a bloody miracle, since to do that you basically have to win a final in your first, maybe second year. Astronomical pressure.

 

[Squeaky]

The continual reference to the marquee games is the worst and most delusional bit of all. Like, stop admiring the view up your own arse and join us in the real world.

While we whistle to ourselves and count our Anzac Day, Dreamtime (aka the annual loss) and Country Game (lol) marquee games, other teams count their finals wins and flags won in the exact era we’ve monopolised these marquee games.

I’d very happily give up every single marquee slot in exchange for us being good. Without a second thought.

So don’t @ me, Essendon, about your marquee games, they’re ******* meaningless because all the marquee games in the world don’t stop you being shithouse.

We play in the marquee games but rarely win the ****ing things, so what is the point?

 

[bacon buster]

what happens if the external review (in addition to the already complete internal review) finds that Rutten was the best man for the job?

 

[bacon buster]

We play in the marquee games but rarely win the ******* things, so what is the point?

We've won 2 out of the last 16 Dreamtime and Anzac Day games

 

[tandino]

what happens if the external review (in addition to the already complete internal review) finds that Rutten was the best man for the job?

That's not how reviews work.

 

[bacon buster]

That's not how reviews work.

so normally you take decisive action on one of the key roles being reviewed BEFORE the review?
righto

 

[Lore]

what happens if the external review (in addition to the already complete internal review) finds that Rutten was the best man for the job?

They’ll burn the review to ashes, grind them to dust, then flush it down the drain for the rats to eat.

 

[Yoda_]

correct me if im wrong but the two people left off field from the drugs saga are Adrian Dodoro and Xavier Campbell, yes?

 

[Dave]

President David Barham phoned Rutten to tell him his contract had been terminated before calling captain Dyson Heppell, vice-captain Zach Merrett and deputy vice-captain Andy McGrath.

Phoned him? Couldn't be arsed doing it face to face? ****ing pathetic.

 

[CBombers17]

I think the only answer left is to market ourselves out of this.

They’ll burn the review to ashes, grind them to dust, then flush it down the drain for the rats to eat.

That review swims with the fishes. We don't talk about that review no more.

 

[Dave]

We play in the marquee games but rarely win the ******* things, so what is the point?

BIG CLUB MONEY LOOK AT ME I'M THE PRESIDENT OF A BIG CLUB.

Sorry not sorry for shouting.

 

[Dave]

what happens if the external review (in addition to the already complete internal review) finds that Rutten was the best man for the job?

Pretty much what my son said when they sacked him. What's the point of it if you aren't going to wait to hear what it says.

Even if an external review recommends a clean out of the old boys network, reducing the size of the board, getting rid of the dodobird etc etc, does anyone here have any faith that the board would actually act on it?

 

[windyhill]

We play in the marquee games but rarely win the ******* things, so what is the point?

The Nightmare, sorry Dreamtime game has turned into an annual disgrace. We used to own richmond once upon a time. We don’t lay a glove on them now, much like last Saturday night. So embarrassing.

 

[Bombermania]

so normally you take decisive action on one of the key roles being reviewed BEFORE the review?
righto

It comes back to the terms of reference, the people being reviewed will use the terms of reference to guide the review in a certain direction, now if we look at what the club has said publicly, its objectives look vague since many areas look off limits.

 

[Albertross]

BIG CLUB MONEY LOOK AT ME I'M THE PRESIDENT OF A BIG CLUB.

Sorry not sorry for shouting.

Stop shouting at me DAVEN!!!

 

[MarkJohnson#1]

Barham has looked anything but inspiring in the week he has sat at the end of the table. Rave reviews from people he likely gave jobs to in the media industry but absolutely embarrassing behaviour in front of the camera and behind the scenes so far. I’ve heard enough about us being a big attractive club and having all these big games, plenty of money, facilities, salary cap etc. If we don’t have good people and a desirable place to work and train then we are on an express train to nowhere. I’ve been incredibly disappointed and embarrassed as a supporter to see how he and the leaders of this club have gone about it in the last week and no doubt it’s a reflection on why we have been so bad for so long. Let the external review begin and clear out all dead wood, including Barham and co if need be. Then be prepared for a big development year next year because we are that far away it’s not funny…

 

[Call Me Cake]

The era of holding feelings over success is over, and the cobwebs are finally being held accountable.

It was inevitable that some people were going to be rubbed the wrong way about it, that's part in parcel with actions that shock the system. Just like when your muscle hurts the next day after working out, you take it on board with a smile because you know it's the pain required for change.

It is monumental for our football club and something we've needed for a long, long time. For so long we've been treading water on hope, walking on egg shells for appeasement.

It's easy to regret something you did do, but much harder to regret not doing anything at all.

To quote a coaching great,

"It was deadly serious for me, football... because we had been beaten so often."

"I don't care whether they hated us or not. That didn't matter. We'd won a premiership and they gradually came around and they respected us." - John Kennedy

We have been so worried about others respecting us despite being so unsuccessful without realising that the respect should come afterwards as a result of success. Let the critics shout until then, it won't matter when that elusive #17 is being lifted up.

"At least do something, do. Don't think. Don't hope. Do. At least you can come off and say I did this, at least I did something for the sake of the side."

 

[Doss]

Sometimes I genuinely wonder if you’re one giant parody act, Cake.

 

[DallasCrane316]

Caro saying that Ernst & Young will be assisting with the external review.

 

[Lore]

Caro saying that Ernst & Young will be assisting with the external review.

Interesting.

 

[Squeaky]

We've won 2 out of the last 16 Dreamtime and Anzac Day games

Exactly. And our President points to these games as a positive.
We look like shit in front of a huge audience too many times per year.
That isn't a selling point, it's an embarrassment!!!!

 

[Nuggs Bunny]

Caro saying that Ernst & Young will be assisting with the external review.

Interested to see who they bring along as a consultant assuming the review will look at football operations as much as governance.

 

[frodos gardener]

Here’s an article from 2013 about Richmond’s years in the wilderness. Sound a bit familiar?

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/richmond/former-richmond-figures-reveal-how-obsession-with-john-pitura-in-1970s-sent-tigers-broke/news-story/1e2bc125ab9f953a8d628e35981b7814

Robert Walls, appointed coach in 1996 and sacked the next year, said he walked into a club stuck in the past - with a mentality and facilities to match.

"I think Leon (Daphne, Tigers president) was pressured by sponsors to sack me.

There was five games to go in the season, what was the point of doing it? But people thought that we've got to be seen to be doing things, seen to be ruthless, because that was the Richmond tradition."

Damien Hardwick

Walls said a stable administration, improved facilities and strong recruiting gave coach Damien Hardwick a chance to rewrite Richmond's modern history.

"They can play finals and, if things fall their way over the next few years, they could play in a Grand Final, that's not beyond them," Walls said.

Bartlett agreed: "Richmond Football Club at this time has the best chance to have success, and continued success, since 1980."

 

[Duckworth]

Lyon has also spoken, I think this is the most interesting part:

“They just need to get unified, because the football people on the board came back with a report that backed in Rutten and the football (department),” Lyon said on Triple M on Sunday.

“So that wasn’t taken - the people in power to make football decisions, they need to leave.

“To be honest, if I had have been a part of that report and then they did what they did, I’d just pack up and go. Pack up and go because you’ve clearly made poor decisions.

so the review backed in Rutten, but Barham sacked him anyway. What a knob.

 

[Doss]

If Madden is indeed departing voluntarily at this point, I don't think this augurs remotely well for the direction the head coach selection is going in.

I get a horrible feeling he's sensing where the wind is blowing and is leaving pre-emptively.

I've said previously in the last few days that the entire board, including Madden, should go, but the timing of this seems ominous to me.