Official Club Stuff From The President - Robert Priestley

[katmanblue]

New president has no aura about him.

Does that matter? I just want someone competent.

 

[Aphrodite]

New president has no aura about him.

Have you seen that Rabble's President!

 

[Blue_Fusion]

Does that matter? I just want someone competent.

Competently running the club from Sydney!

What kind of an idiot sends a long winding email about board changes the night we're playing Collingwood at a time we hadn't even won a game yet? Completely tone deaf.

 

[kreuze_missile]

Hi President,

If you're planning to email the entire membership base during a time when the club is clearly struggling, it might be worth including more than just the CEO transition date alongside 500 filler words.

Some additional context or reassurance would go a long way.

Kind regards
Everyone.

 

[Aphrodite]

​

Today's email ...

​ Dear Aph, I’m writing to share an important update regarding the final stages of the CEO transition at the Carlton Football Club. The Club has been finalising the remaining stages of this transition and can confirm that Graham Wright will officially assume the role of Chief Executive Officer on 15 August. Current CEO Brian Cook will continue to support the Club in an advisory capacity until mid-October, ensuring a smooth and considered handover. From the outset, this transition was designed to be ongoing in nature, and as we approach the formal handover, the final stages allow Brian to see through several key commitments, while affording Graham the opportunity to focus on matters relating to 2026, including working closely with our football department through the remaining eight rounds of the AFL season. Brian’s contribution to the broader AFL industry has been nothing short of exceptional and we are thankful for his dedicated service to Carlton. With 35 years as a Club CEO, he is widely regarded as one of the most respected administrators in the game, and a pioneer in Australian sport for instilling a values-based leadership approach. While we will formally celebrate Brian’s legacy later in the year, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge his remarkable career and enduring impact. We are confident that Graham’s leadership, supported by the collective, will position the Club strongly for the coming years. The collaborative and unified approach of Brian and Graham throughout this transition has been outstanding, reflecting the commitment to excellence and unity that underpins our football club. While the Club is making strong progress across many areas of the organisation, clearly our on-field performance is not where we want it to be. With eight rounds remaining in the AFL season, we are not wasting any time in getting the most out of this period. Our focus is firmly fixed on maximising these weeks to ensure at the end of the season, we will make calm, rational and considered decisions that take the Club forward. Thank you for your continued support of the Carlton Football Club. Go Blues,​ Robert Priestley President Member ID: 1293568

 

[ferrisb]

Hi President,

If you're planning to email the entire membership base during a time when the club is clearly struggling, it might be worth including more than just the CEO transition date alongside 500 filler words.

Some additional context or reassurance would go a long way.

Kind regards
Everyone.

Was a completely useless email.

But I think he was trying to highlight 'Wright is about to take over. We have faith that he is going to turn things around'.

Basically corporate speak for 'In Wright We Trust'.

 

[kreuze_missile]

Was a completely useless email.

But I think he was trying to highlight 'Wright is about to take over. We have faith that he is going to turn things around'.

Basically corporate speak for 'In Wright We Trust'.

Messish complex, again.

Pagan
Judd
Malthouse
Cook
Wright

 

[swuzzlebubble]

Messish complex, again.

Pagan
Judd
Malthouse
Cook
Wright

What's the alternative?

 

[bmaurizio]

I was expecting Graham Wright to be appointed CEO in July , obviously Voss will see out the season. Our President lacks charisma and enthusiasm. Very much a remote President, given the upheaval and turmoil surrounding the Club, not convincing.

 

[CrippaTheGoat9]

What's the alternative?

Bring in inexperienced people and hope for the best.

 

[Blue Pulse]

I thought he was emailing us about access to finals tickets

 

[jj1978]

6 weeks to form a habit. Voss and team have 6 weeks to prove themselves... then Wright will decide.

 

[Mikkey]

This was a clear signal that there will be no changes before the end of the season (except if the on field goes completely catastrophic)

 

[Blue_Fusion]

So much for that July move...

Whilst I thought it wouldn't happen till October, it's clear that by mid-August there will be no changes... Cook isn't going to be the CEO to sack Voss unless we are getting pummeled week in week out... even then, I'm not confident Cook will pull the trigger. He's not letting Lloyd go either fwiw...

So, as expected... we wait till the off season for these changes. I do think that it's a little late to sack a coach end of August (at earliest) then go through a process of finding another with ample time for the list management team to make the changes the new coach will want to make ahead of trade period and draft...

 

[Chemical]

What a bullshit email

 

[bradfisher14]

Good to see the WFH President found time in his schedule to provide us with a date and a generic chatgpt email

 

[2blue4u]

​

Today's email ...

​ Dear Aph, I’m writing to share an important update regarding the final stages of the CEO transition at the Carlton Football Club. The Club has been finalising the remaining stages of this transition and can confirm that Graham Wright will officially assume the role of Chief Executive Officer on 15 August. Current CEO Brian Cook will continue to support the Club in an advisory capacity until mid-October, ensuring a smooth and considered handover. From the outset, this transition was designed to be ongoing in nature, and as we approach the formal handover, the final stages allow Brian to see through several key commitments, while affording Graham the opportunity to focus on matters relating to 2026, including working closely with our football department through the remaining eight rounds of the AFL season. Brian’s contribution to the broader AFL industry has been nothing short of exceptional and we are thankful for his dedicated service to Carlton. With 35 years as a Club CEO, he is widely regarded as one of the most respected administrators in the game, and a pioneer in Australian sport for instilling a values-based leadership approach. While we will formally celebrate Brian’s legacy later in the year, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge his remarkable career and enduring impact. We are confident that Graham’s leadership, supported by the collective, will position the Club strongly for the coming years. The collaborative and unified approach of Brian and Graham throughout this transition has been outstanding, reflecting the commitment to excellence and unity that underpins our football club. While the Club is making strong progress across many areas of the organisation, clearly our on-field performance is not where we want it to be. With eight rounds remaining in the AFL season, we are not wasting any time in getting the most out of this period. Our focus is firmly fixed on maximising these weeks to ensure at the end of the season, we will make calm, rational and considered decisions that take the Club forward. Thank you for your continued support of the Carlton Football Club. Go Blues,​ Robert Priestley President Member ID: 1293568

Our focus is firmly fixed on maximising these weeks to ensure at the end of the season, we will make calm, rational and considered decisions that take the Club forward.

To me this reads bye Voss. They are just planting the seed. Could be wrong but it's how my brain sees it.

 

[jj1978]

This was a clear signal that there will be no changes before the end of the season (except if the on field goes completely catastrophic)

Who would we change to? ATM only Power it seems would be the best one to take on the caretaker role, but with the VFL side in with a shot at finals with their current form on the up club wouldn't want to give us some semblance of potential joy by rocking things up there. Tactically speaking Hansen has been the coach, so unless he can change our style in a few short weeks is it worth it?

There's now a ticking 6 week clock for the players and coaching staff to prove their mettle. If they continue on their current trajectory then on Wright's signal, unleash hell.

 

[DigbysLovechild]

Any chance the president of this "FOOTBALL" club could get to focusing on football. The guy is tone deaf.

 

[agro]

Who would we change to? ATM only Power it seems would be the best one to take on the caretaker role, but with the VFL side in with a shot at finals with their current form on the up club wouldn't want to give us some semblance of potential joy by rocking things up there. Tactically speaking Hansen has been the coach, so unless he can change our style in a few short weeks is it worth it?

There's now a ticking 6 week clock for the players and coaching staff to prove their mettle. If they continue on their current trajectory then on Wright's signal, unleash hell.

 

[Schoonerman]

I was expecting Graham Wright to be appointed CEO in July , obviously Voss will see out the season. Our President lacks charisma and enthusiasm. Very much a remote President, given the upheaval and turmoil surrounding the Club, not convincing.

I agree a billshit email really
But.. Tell me more about this Charisma you crave
Jeff Kennet Charisma ? Kochie?

 

[Michael Jezz]

Priestley is a corporate goon and a banker who clearly demonstrates he comes from an industry that does not require the personal touch

 

[jj1978]

Can Wright give power back to the people of Carlton and end the corruption that has crippled it?

 

[KoutaGnome]

I was expecting Graham Wright would be CEO in July , obviously Voss will see out the season. Our President lacks charisma and enthusiasm. Very much a remote President, given the upheaval and turmoil surrounding the Club, not convincing.

'Remote' is the operative term. Bloke's in Sydney. Getting deja vu of Trigg and him living in Adelaide.

Hollow word salad from Robert from Sydney.
Whole lot of plaudits directed at Cook.
Whole lot of nothing directed at members and supporters.

'Thank you for your continued support of the Carlton Football Club.' Such rousing, inspiring, heart felt and sincere words, Robert

No apology. No contrition. Zero recognition of testing fans continued loyalty. Or the pain or understandable angst of loyal Blues fans re. this train wreck of a season.

IMO, a really tone deaf email from a seemingly passionless and invisible club President.

 

[BlueBlood15]

Reading the tea leaves I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some crisis talks held over the weekend. Mr Stability Cook took his usual no changes on my watch position. Wright expressed the view that he wanted to start implementing change. Handover agreed to be brought forward from October to 15 August. I’m expecting Wright to start swinging from the hip from 15 August.

My only gripe is why not bring this handover forward even further to say 15 July.

Anyway, as I’ve said for a while, each game is simply now a countdown to the changes coming which are the only thing that can move us forward as a club.