Official Club Stuff From The President - Robert Priestley

[Jimmae]

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.

Likely because Wright is still working with the football department directly. I'd suggest he's already got most of his ducks in a row ready for the hiring process within the football department.

 

[17in25]

Oh, Snuffleupagus has made a belated comment/appearance...
Is it possible to have a less inspiring football club president than this?

 

[T2B_]

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

Exactly my impression.

Quite frankly I'm sick of the corporate type speak in general from the club and treating us like idiots. Just own up to the failures (properly, not skirting around them), outline a plan to fix them and get to work.

 

[Jimmae]

Oh, Snuffleupagus has made a belated comment/appearance...
Is it possible to have a less inspiring football club president than this?

It's not a press junket, it's an announcement of a change in strategy and confirmation of Voss' tenure for 2025.

Can we get some smarter commentary around this please? Tired of reading Herald Sun comments on this forum.

 

[17in25]

It's not a press junket, it's an announcement of a change in strategy and confirmation of Voss' tenure for 2025.

Can we get some smarter commentary around this please? Tired of reading Herald Sun comments on this forum.

Oh, I'm sorry — RP has been president since February 2025. I follow just about every source of information and news our football club appears in, and for a president of a high-profile football club, he has been conspicuously absent. We are in a deep hole, and we need leadership.

That his recent comment is "not a press junket" is not the point.

The point I was making is that, as president, he has been all but invisible — like our Sesame Street character. I was hoping he might provide some words of encouragement and/or hope in our hour of need. No such luck, it would seem.

And, as it happens, I rarely look at the Herald Sun. I'm not a fan of the Murdoch press; I avoid it if I can, and I certainly will not pay for its written content. If I do read it, it's likely sourced from a news aggregator.

If only our former president had more control ... such a pity

 

[Bluechip66]

Hi Rob

 

[passmark]

Networking stooge dressed up as a Prez.

****ing clown

 

[SkyhorseTamer]

Oh, I'm sorry — RP has been president since February 2025. I follow just about every source of information and news our football club appears in, and for a president of a high-profile football club, he has been conspicuously absent. We are in a deep hole, and we need leadership.

That his recent comment is "not a press junket" is not the point.

The point I was making is that, as president, he has been all but invisible — like our Sesame Street character. I was hoping he might provide some words of encouragement and/or hope in our hour of need. No such luck, it would seem.

And, as it happens, I rarely look at the Herald Sun. I'm not a fan of the Murdoch press; I avoid it if I can, and I certainly will not pay for its written content. If I do read it, it's likely sourced from a news aggregator.

If only our former president had more control ... such a pity

Wtf....? Adult fans do not need coddling that one day it'll be better.

His leadership should be internal. Couldn't give 2 ****s if he wastes time trying to placate emotional fans or not.

 

[Aphrodite]

From the President | CEO transition update

Carlton President Rob Priestley provides an update for members on timings for the CEO transition from Brian Cook to Graham Wright.

www.carltonfc.com.au

 

[Blue__Balls]

Anyone got the cliff notes for that video? Can't really bring myself to watch 8 minutes of waffle just to get something as simple as "Wright will take over from Cook on [date]".

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

From the President | CEO transition update

Carlton President Rob Priestley provides an update for members on timings for the CEO transition from Brian Cook to Graham Wright.

www.carltonfc.com.au

Wow .. are we actually a professional outfit?

Priestley explains why the handover for Cook/Wright is planned for August, then the interviewer immediately follows up with, “So why the future date for a the handover?” prompting Priestley to repeat the exact same answer.

Clearly one of them skipped over the Dorothy Dixers run sheet.

 

[CrippaTheGoat9]

Listening to the President talking to the media today I don’t think it’s definitive Vossy is out at seasons end.

I think he will go but I also think it’s a really possibility he stays and we replace all his assistants.

 

[carlton_99]

Listening to the President talking to the media today I don’t think it’s definitive Vossy is out at seasons end.

I think he will go but I also think it’s a really possibility he stays and we replace all his assistants.

Will probably depend on if they can recruit the assistants they want to surround Voss with

 

[Aphrodite]

Wow .. are we actually a professional outfit?

Priestley explains why the handover for Cook/Wright is planned for August, then the interviewer immediately follows up with, “So why the future date for a the handover?” prompting Priestley to repeat the exact same answer.

Clearly one of them skipped over the Dorothy Dixers run sheet.

15th August

 

[NYCFC]

Well it's been four months since anyone posted about our President, which I think is instructive in and of itself.
Rob Priestly's been dinged for being boring, vanilla, no charisma, Mr Invisible.
(Unlike the previous guy who had all the swagger we usually think a figurehead should have).

But what I think is happening right now at Carlton feels a lot like the kind of stuff that only happens when the key decision maker/s are far more interested in getting the 'boring' fundamentals right, than in making statements, boosting their egos, and providing sugar hits for the stakeholders/fans.

For the first time in a long time, it appears our club is focusing on competency as a priority.
On addressing the fundamentals rather than window dressing.
On doing things the right way, from the ground up.
Basically, for the first time in a long time, we're rebuilding the pillars instead of trying to put big shiny objects on top of the old rotten foundations.

Look at the people we've got at the very top.
Priestly, no nonsense. Seemingly completely uninterested in using the club to promote himself.
Wright, no nonsense. Speaks through actions.
Davies, no nonsense. Haven't heard a single word of fluff come from this man's mouth yet.

Look at the actions so far.

Heavy investment in player development. Something that we've all been crying out for because it's been an obvious weakness. Development coaches aren't sexy hires. Player development isn't a sexy function. It's hard work that pays medium/long term dividends. But it's really a key to the on field success of any club. And a key reason why players might want to come, and stay, here.

The willingness to get rid of an entitled 'star' in order to create the capital needed to rebuild the playing list with the kinds of players who aren't headliners, but who will give us the depth needed to compete for a full season.
(imagine for a moment Luke Sayers signing off on that. I really can't).

Holding on to Voss for the last year of his contract, understanding that the majority of fans likely wanted him gone (I don't rate him as a senior coach). Understanding that the sugar hit of a new coach for this season had to take a back seat to fixing the underlying issues. To getting the fundamentals right.To making the club and the football department strong enough to attract the kind of senior coach we all want and need, but who likely isn't attracted to a club that doesn't have its shit together.

What I'm seeing from the club is heavy doses of pragmatism, and decision making designed to rebuild a failed culture.
I'm seeing actual evidence that 'Carlton first' might actually be more than a slogan, but a mindset from leaders who feel comfortable enough with their own reputations to not need to use the club to promote themselves.

What I'm seeing is the kind of stuff that 'boring, uncharismatic' leaders do.

I think Priestly is the kind of leader comfortable enough to bring in good people, and stay out of their way.
In a world where self promoting, self-serving 'leaders' are all too common, I'm really enjoying a dose of unflinching competency and a focus on getting the important things right.

No swagger. No charisma. No bullshit.

I like it.

 

[The Blueseum]

He told the story at the SOC luncheon this year about how he celebrated so long after the 1995 Grand Final victory that he was actually late to his daughter's christening.

I think that is a good sign.

 

[SurreyBlue]

Well it's been four months since anyone posted about our President, which I think is instructive in and of itself.
Rob Priestly's been dinged for being boring, vanilla, no charisma, Mr Invisible.
(Unlike the previous guy who had all the swagger we usually think a figurehead should have).

But what I think is happening right now at Carlton feels a lot like the kind of stuff that only happens when the key decision maker/s are far more interested in getting the 'boring' fundamentals right, than in making statements, boosting their egos, and providing sugar hits for the stakeholders/fans.

For the first time in a long time, it appears our club is focusing on competency as a priority.
On addressing the fundamentals rather than window dressing.
On doing things the right way, from the ground up.
Basically, for the first time in a long time, we're rebuilding the pillars instead of trying to put big shiny objects on top of the old rotten foundations.

Look at the people we've got at the very top.
Priestly, no nonsense. Seemingly completely uninterested in using the club to promote himself.
Wright, no nonsense. Speaks through actions.
Davies, no nonsense. Haven't heard a single word of fluff come from this man's mouth yet.

Look at the actions so far.

Heavy investment in player development. Something that we've all been crying out for because it's been an obvious weakness. Development coaches aren't sexy hires. Player development isn't a sexy function. It's hard work that pays medium/long term dividends. But it's really a key to the on field success of any club. And a key reason why players might want to come, and stay, here.

The willingness to get rid of an entitled 'star' in order to create the capital needed to rebuild the playing list with the kinds of players who aren't headliners, but who will give us the depth needed to compete for a full season.
(imagine for a moment Luke Sayers signing off on that. I really can't).

Holding on to Voss for the last year of his contract, understanding that the majority of fans likely wanted him gone (I don't rate him as a senior coach). Understanding that the sugar hit of a new coach for this season had to take a back seat to fixing the underlying issues. To getting the fundamentals right.To making the club and the football department strong enough to attract the kind of senior coach we all want and need, but who likely isn't attracted to a club that doesn't have its shit together.

What I'm seeing from the club is heavy does of pragmatism, and decision making designed to rebuild a failed culture.
I'm seeing actual evidence that 'Carlton first' might actually be more than a slogan, but a mindset from leaders who feel comfortable enough with their own reputations to not need to use the club to promote themselves.

What I'm seeing is the kind of stuff that 'boring, uncharismatic' leaders do.

I think Priestly is the kind of leader comfortable enough to bring in good people, and stay out of their way.
In a world where self promoting, self-serving 'leaders' are all too common, I'm really enjoying a dose of unflinching competency and a focus on getting the important things right.

No swagger. No charisma. No bullshit.

I like it.

Let’s hope we have a strong united team who knows what is needed to get things right. We need this to be true!!!

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Oh Roooooobbbeeerrrttt

Where were you on this one big boy?

Now the club is embroiled in an Israel vs Palestine moral battle.

Not a great look and the control has only inflamed things further.

Any honest, non-scripted response coming from you?

 

[Sector 7G]

Oh Roooooobbbeeerrrttt

Where were you on this one big boy?

Now the club is embroiled in an Israel vs Palestine moral battle.

Not a great look and the control has only inflamed things further.

Any honest, non-scripted response coming from you?

Massive overblown issue that has somehow made the front page of the paper. Club was in a no win situation. Would be criticized for what ever they did. Are we sure that the casual employee in the masked Captain Carlton suit in Round 1 is not going to be the same guy at the Bar Mitzvah?

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Massive overblown issue that has somehow made the front page of the paper. Club was in a no win situation. Would be criticized for what ever they did. Are we sure that the casual employee in the masked Captain Carlton suit in Round 1 is not going to be the same guy at the Bar Mitzvah?

It doesn't matter if he suits up again, when the appearance is that he was sacked for upsetting Jewish community leaders. The club should have taken some time, not had a knee jerk reaction to bring embarrassed in front of mates.

 

[Dramoth]

It doesn't matter if he suits up again, when the appearance is that he was sacked for upsetting Jewish community leaders. The club should have taken some time, not had a knee jerk reaction to bring embarrassed in front of mates.

Being pressured into it by a couple of "senior club members" of the supporter group at the club.

I wonder if they can tell me how long it takes to become a senior club member? Because I've been a club member for 17 seasons now and I'm sure that qualifies me as being a senior club member (add in that I'm 61 years old)... or is it the amount of zeros you have in your bank account? You know, the more zeros you have in your bank account, the more senior you are.

I have voting rights at the club as well. It's one member, one vote. Just because one member has a couple of hundred million in the bank, doesn't give him any more power, really, at the club than I have.

But we all know that the rich and infamous really rule the club.

 

[ctwenty1]

Oh Roooooobbbeeerrrttt

Where were you on this one big boy?

Now the club is embroiled in an Israel vs Palestine moral battle.

Not a great look and the control has only inflamed things further.

Any honest, non-scripted response coming from you?

Really, you want to expand the issue to another thread?

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Really, you want to expand the issue to another thread?

Settle petal. It's really calling out the President to be visible on a club issue. The board haven't been great for a while. A handful of comments in an appropriate thread is not much of an expansion.

 

[The Bighouse]

Oh Roooooobbbeeerrrttt

Where were you on this one big boy?

Now the club is embroiled in an Israel vs Palestine moral battle.

Not a great look and the control has only inflamed things further.

Any honest, non-scripted response coming from you?

We don’t need to go further, the employee has been dismissed for their behaviour and leaving early whilst performing as CC. It’s been dealt with, move on.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

I posted in the Carlton related thread yesterday that the Captain Carlton job might be up for grabs last night when I heard about it originally. That's pretty much all I said. It got deleted because it was "racist". What is racist about saying that the captain Carlton job might be up for grabs?

Not quite Dram.

This was the reason showing against your deleted post last night:

Reason: Not appropriate can turn ugly & belongs in SRP

Nothing about racism there.

This issue came up in a mod chat last night. It took time for all of us to see it and respond. It was agreed it would be ugly, but we had to allow discussion as it relates to the club. For every protest about censorship, we have another protest about not removing enough, or allowing the discussion at all.

I urge both sides to recognise the rock and the hard place here. Your emotions don't help us one iota.