News 2023 St Kilda Media Thread

[Sibaspud]

"Nick Riewoldt and Ross Lyon after the R22 match between St Kilda and Richmond at the MCG in 2016. Picture: AFL Photos"

I should've learnt by now to get my facts from BF and not read Sliding Doors...

 

[George]

 

[sauce_head]

"Nick Riewoldt and Ross Lyon after the R22 match between St Kilda and Richmond at the MCG in 2016. Picture: AFL Photos"

I should've learnt by now to get my facts from BF and not read Sliding Doors...

Was that an article that had something about Ratten?

 

[cartwright]

Can anyone share what she’s on about?

Why there is tension at the top at Moorabbin, as Saints’ season teeters

A former North Melbourne CEO adds an intriguing dimension to the administration puzzle spreading from AFL HQ to a handful of clubs. One of those clubs is St Kilda.

www.theage.com.au

 

[BrutThough]

Can anyone share what she’s on about?

Why there is tension at the top at Moorabbin, as Saints’ season teeters

A former North Melbourne CEO adds an intriguing dimension to the administration puzzle spreading from AFL HQ to a handful of clubs. One of those clubs is St Kilda.

www.theage.com.au

Why there is tension at the top at Moorabbin, as Saints’ season teeters​

North Melbourne made some poor decisions during Ben Buckley’s five-year reign as president but parting ways with Carl Dilena at the end of a messy 2019 season stands out as among the most inexplicable.

Appointed as chief executive by Buckley’s predecessor James Brayshaw seven years earlier after then-Geelong CEO Brian Cook was courted but ultimately declined the role, Dilena had been a Kangaroos board member for more than a decade who saw an opportunity and departed his senior partnership at KPMG to move full-time into football.


During his regime, North Melbourne eradicated its hefty long-term debt, which had almost brought the club to its knees, signed a lucrative deal with the Tasmanian Government-owned TT-Line to play home games in Hobart, and won the right to field a foundation AFLW team – appointing the highly regarded Laura Kane to oversee the debutantes.

Significantly, too, Dilena invested extra funding into a football department that had been operating lean. During his seven years at the helm and with Brad Scott as coach, North made the finals three times for two top four finishes.

Since his exit the Kangaroos have finished 17th once and 18th twice and look headed for their fourth consecutive bottom two season.

Dilena seemingly paid the price for his handling of Scott’s difficult final 18 months. After Scott’s controversial departure early in the 2019 season, club director and Shinboner of the Century Glenn Archer had a major say in a series of key football decisions and the collective view was that Dilena had not been adequately robust. Suffice to say those who oversaw his exit also oversaw the start of a much bigger shambles.

His replacement Ben Amarfio resigned after three years. Since Scott, five different senior coaches have mentored the struggling team and the challenge of rebuilding the Kangaroos has been taken up by Sonja Hood, Jen Watt and a still fragile Alastair Clarkson.

Dilena returned to the AFL community late last year when new St Kilda boss Simon Lethlean brought him in as his second-in-command at the Saints. Interestingly, Dilena narrowly missed out on the top administrative job at Essendon, despite some strong industry recommendations and being heavily backed by new coach Scott. President David Barham selected Craig Vozzo instead.


Now Dilena has emerged as an intriguing player in the administrative puzzle spreading from head office to a handful of AFL clubs. Hawthorn is actively seeking a new chief executive to replace Justin Reeves and at least one other club should soon be in a similar position, given Andrew Dillon’s belief that his new executive requires a senior operator with club experience.

Even if Brendon Gale does not leave Richmond to join Dillon at the AFL, there are a number of other CEOs in that queue, while Brian Cook made it clear his time at Carlton would probably be limited to the term of his three-year contract which ends next year.

But the most intriguing remains the current scenario at Moorabbin, where Ross Lyon has brought in his own team and taken over the football operation while voicing increasing frustration with the football situation he inherited.

Despite denials from both men it is clear that the relationship between the new senior coach and his CEO Simon Lethlean is not working as well as it should be.

Significantly Lethlean – before being promoted to the top job – ran the football department which was significantly pruned and reshuffled, first by the new incumbent Geoff Walsh and further by Lyon after Walsh quit

​

The Lyon-Lethlean situation needs to be resolved and president Andrew Bassat – who flexed his muscle for the first time last year in standing up to the football department over the pursuit of Jordan De Goey and by bringing in Lyon to replace Brett Ratten – must play the pivotal role. The Saints have endured too much pain for too long to leave disharmony between its two key people unattended.

Although Lethlean has been adamant that he has moved on from the football role, Lyon’s preference is for a CEO who allows the football operation to run largely independently. Asked about murmurs of friction between the pair, Lyon told a press conference this week: “There’s been some change and with change, I wouldn’t say there’s unhappiness, but sometimes not everyone’s comfortable with change.

“But from my end and Simon’s end, we’re fine... I haven’t had one raised word with Simon since I’ve been here. That’s the truth.”

Lyon’s frustrations as the Saints have struggled on the field after a bright start to 2023 seems matched by the deficiencies in the list he inherited, and which he has now charged list manager Stephen Silvgani and talent boss Graeme Allan with rebuilding.

​

Lethlean has played down interest in the Hawthorn job, where he has significant connections, but he has been sounded out for the role.

At a time when the industry is bemoaning the lack of next-generation administrative talent it would be extraordinary if the Hawks had not approached Dilena – who carries a reputation of having a hands-off approach to his senior coach and empowering his staff.

The company line is that Dilena – Ross Lyon’s teammate for two years at Fitzroy – is relishing his return to football and happy in his current role as St Kilda’s COO. But should Lethlean move, Moorabbin has the ideal replacement waiting in the wings.

 

[gringo2011]

Why there is tension at the top at Moorabbin, as Saints’ season teeters​

North Melbourne made some poor decisions during Ben Buckley’s five-year reign as president but parting ways with Carl Dilena at the end of a messy 2019 season stands out as among the most inexplicable.

Appointed as chief executive by Buckley’s predecessor James Brayshaw seven years earlier after then-Geelong CEO Brian Cook was courted but ultimately declined the role, Dilena had been a Kangaroos board member for more than a decade who saw an opportunity and departed his senior partnership at KPMG to move full-time into football.


During his regime, North Melbourne eradicated its hefty long-term debt, which had almost brought the club to its knees, signed a lucrative deal with the Tasmanian Government-owned TT-Line to play home games in Hobart, and won the right to field a foundation AFLW team – appointing the highly regarded Laura Kane to oversee the debutantes.

Significantly, too, Dilena invested extra funding into a football department that had been operating lean. During his seven years at the helm and with Brad Scott as coach, North made the finals three times for two top four finishes.

Since his exit the Kangaroos have finished 17th once and 18th twice and look headed for their fourth consecutive bottom two season.

Dilena seemingly paid the price for his handling of Scott’s difficult final 18 months. After Scott’s controversial departure early in the 2019 season, club director and Shinboner of the Century Glenn Archer had a major say in a series of key football decisions and the collective view was that Dilena had not been adequately robust. Suffice to say those who oversaw his exit also oversaw the start of a much bigger shambles.

His replacement Ben Amarfio resigned after three years. Since Scott, five different senior coaches have mentored the struggling team and the challenge of rebuilding the Kangaroos has been taken up by Sonja Hood, Jen Watt and a still fragile Alastair Clarkson.

Dilena returned to the AFL community late last year when new St Kilda boss Simon Lethlean brought him in as his second-in-command at the Saints. Interestingly, Dilena narrowly missed out on the top administrative job at Essendon, despite some strong industry recommendations and being heavily backed by new coach Scott. President David Barham selected Craig Vozzo instead.


Now Dilena has emerged as an intriguing player in the administrative puzzle spreading from head office to a handful of AFL clubs. Hawthorn is actively seeking a new chief executive to replace Justin Reeves and at least one other club should soon be in a similar position, given Andrew Dillon’s belief that his new executive requires a senior operator with club experience.

Even if Brendon Gale does not leave Richmond to join Dillon at the AFL, there are a number of other CEOs in that queue, while Brian Cook made it clear his time at Carlton would probably be limited to the term of his three-year contract which ends next year.

But the most intriguing remains the current scenario at Moorabbin, where Ross Lyon has brought in his own team and taken over the football operation while voicing increasing frustration with the football situation he inherited.

Despite denials from both men it is clear that the relationship between the new senior coach and his CEO Simon Lethlean is not working as well as it should be.

Significantly Lethlean – before being promoted to the top job – ran the football department which was significantly pruned and reshuffled, first by the new incumbent Geoff Walsh and further by Lyon after Walsh quit

​

The Lyon-Lethlean situation needs to be resolved and president Andrew Bassat – who flexed his muscle for the first time last year in standing up to the football department over the pursuit of Jordan De Goey and by bringing in Lyon to replace Brett Ratten – must play the pivotal role. The Saints have endured too much pain for too long to leave disharmony between its two key people unattended.

Although Lethlean has been adamant that he has moved on from the football role, Lyon’s preference is for a CEO who allows the football operation to run largely independently. Asked about murmurs of friction between the pair, Lyon told a press conference this week: “There’s been some change and with change, I wouldn’t say there’s unhappiness, but sometimes not everyone’s comfortable with change.

“But from my end and Simon’s end, we’re fine... I haven’t had one raised word with Simon since I’ve been here. That’s the truth.”

Lyon’s frustrations as the Saints have struggled on the field after a bright start to 2023 seems matched by the deficiencies in the list he inherited, and which he has now charged list manager Stephen Silvgani and talent boss Graeme Allan with rebuilding.

​

Lethlean has played down interest in the Hawthorn job, where he has significant connections, but he has been sounded out for the role.

At a time when the industry is bemoaning the lack of next-generation administrative talent it would be extraordinary if the Hawks had not approached Dilena – who carries a reputation of having a hands-off approach to his senior coach and empowering his staff.

The company line is that Dilena – Ross Lyon’s teammate for two years at Fitzroy – is relishing his return to football and happy in his current role as St Kilda’s COO. But should Lethlean move, Moorabbin has the ideal replacement waiting in the wings.

It would be so Saints to lose Dilena and keep Lethers.

 

[hayes]

The entire football department that Lethlean put in is a total failure and gets replaced and for some reason Hawthorn think he’d be a good get. Bye bye.

 

[cartwright]

The entire football department that Lethlean put in is a total failure and gets replaced and for some reason Hawthorn think he’d be a good get. Bye bye.

Jobs for the boys.

 

[austinnn]

Seems like Caro is agitating for "Funky" Carl Dilena to replace Lethlean - I wonder if she is doing her old mate Ross a favour.

 

[Mowman]

Seems like Caro is agitating for "Funky" Carl Dilena to replace Lethlean - I wonder if she is doing her old mate Ross a favour.

Dilena would be very good for the role

 

[Mowman]

The entire football department that Lethlean put in is a total failure and gets replaced and for some reason Hawthorn think he’d be a good get. Bye bye.

And for some reason we promoted him
It’s laughable that he is still at the club

 

[gringo2011]

And for some reason we promoted him
It’s laughable that he is still at the club

Like moving a sack of grain into the lounge room to get a rat out of the kitchen. We needed to get him out of the footy department before he broke something else.

 

[sammm]

Dilena would very good for the role

What has Dilena done that makes you say that?

 

[Mowman]

What has Dilena done that makes you say that?

He was at North and was in charge when they cleared all their debt
Has reputation of being a very good operator

 

[botts]

And for some reason we promoted him
It’s laughable that he is still at the club

It’s good for the club if some feathers are being ruffled. Lethas has come out of this garbage period way to clean. He has literally been responsible for most of the s**t infield decisions that see us where we are today

 

[Mowman]

It’s good for the club if some feathers are being ruffled. Lethas has come out of this garbage period way to clean. He has literally been responsible for most of the s**t infield decisions that see us where we are today

Welcome aboard

Been saying this for 3 years now

 

[gringo2011]

It’s good for the club if some feathers are being ruffled. Lethas has come out of this garbage period way to clean. He has literally been responsible for most of the s**t infield decisions that see us where we are today

Again putting Lethlean in to review the list is on us not him. Good administration of anything is about good decision making. Putting a guy who was a commercial manager in the AFL to do list reviews because we wanted to find a role for him was just pure stupidity. He would have been on an executive wage too. Mindbogglingly dumb. You don't call a lawyer to fix your blocked drains because he's a good litigator.

Having him in the organisation in role that is more suited to his skill set is less problematic but if there is a choice between losing Dilena and Lethers.....I'm keeping Funky Cold.

 

[Yawkey way]

Welcome aboard

Been saying this for 3 years now

I’m not a fan and can scarcely believe he still has a job. He is definitely much better suited to his current role but if he’s peering into the areas he made a mess of then yes I’ve definitely got a problem with that. Anyway I know who my money is on to win that battle so if there‘s tension it’s welcome Carl to your new role.

 

[George]

Why there is tension at the top at Moorabbin, as Saints’ season teeters​

North Melbourne made some poor decisions during Ben Buckley’s five-year reign as president but parting ways with Carl Dilena at the end of a messy 2019 season stands out as among the most inexplicable.

Appointed as chief executive by Buckley’s predecessor James Brayshaw seven years earlier after then-Geelong CEO Brian Cook was courted but ultimately declined the role, Dilena had been a Kangaroos board member for more than a decade who saw an opportunity and departed his senior partnership at KPMG to move full-time into football.


During his regime, North Melbourne eradicated its hefty long-term debt, which had almost brought the club to its knees, signed a lucrative deal with the Tasmanian Government-owned TT-Line to play home games in Hobart, and won the right to field a foundation AFLW team – appointing the highly regarded Laura Kane to oversee the debutantes.

Significantly, too, Dilena invested extra funding into a football department that had been operating lean. During his seven years at the helm and with Brad Scott as coach, North made the finals three times for two top four finishes.

Since his exit the Kangaroos have finished 17th once and 18th twice and look headed for their fourth consecutive bottom two season.

Dilena seemingly paid the price for his handling of Scott’s difficult final 18 months. After Scott’s controversial departure early in the 2019 season, club director and Shinboner of the Century Glenn Archer had a major say in a series of key football decisions and the collective view was that Dilena had not been adequately robust. Suffice to say those who oversaw his exit also oversaw the start of a much bigger shambles.

His replacement Ben Amarfio resigned after three years. Since Scott, five different senior coaches have mentored the struggling team and the challenge of rebuilding the Kangaroos has been taken up by Sonja Hood, Jen Watt and a still fragile Alastair Clarkson.

Dilena returned to the AFL community late last year when new St Kilda boss Simon Lethlean brought him in as his second-in-command at the Saints. Interestingly, Dilena narrowly missed out on the top administrative job at Essendon, despite some strong industry recommendations and being heavily backed by new coach Scott. President David Barham selected Craig Vozzo instead.


Now Dilena has emerged as an intriguing player in the administrative puzzle spreading from head office to a handful of AFL clubs. Hawthorn is actively seeking a new chief executive to replace Justin Reeves and at least one other club should soon be in a similar position, given Andrew Dillon’s belief that his new executive requires a senior operator with club experience.

Even if Brendon Gale does not leave Richmond to join Dillon at the AFL, there are a number of other CEOs in that queue, while Brian Cook made it clear his time at Carlton would probably be limited to the term of his three-year contract which ends next year.

But the most intriguing remains the current scenario at Moorabbin, where Ross Lyon has brought in his own team and taken over the football operation while voicing increasing frustration with the football situation he inherited.

Despite denials from both men it is clear that the relationship between the new senior coach and his CEO Simon Lethlean is not working as well as it should be.

Significantly Lethlean – before being promoted to the top job – ran the football department which was significantly pruned and reshuffled, first by the new incumbent Geoff Walsh and further by Lyon after Walsh quit

​

The Lyon-Lethlean situation needs to be resolved and president Andrew Bassat – who flexed his muscle for the first time last year in standing up to the football department over the pursuit of Jordan De Goey and by bringing in Lyon to replace Brett Ratten – must play the pivotal role. The Saints have endured too much pain for too long to leave disharmony between its two key people unattended.

Although Lethlean has been adamant that he has moved on from the football role, Lyon’s preference is for a CEO who allows the football operation to run largely independently. Asked about murmurs of friction between the pair, Lyon told a press conference this week: “There’s been some change and with change, I wouldn’t say there’s unhappiness, but sometimes not everyone’s comfortable with change.

“But from my end and Simon’s end, we’re fine... I haven’t had one raised word with Simon since I’ve been here. That’s the truth.”

Lyon’s frustrations as the Saints have struggled on the field after a bright start to 2023 seems matched by the deficiencies in the list he inherited, and which he has now charged list manager Stephen Silvgani and talent boss Graeme Allan with rebuilding.

​

Lethlean has played down interest in the Hawthorn job, where he has significant connections, but he has been sounded out for the role.

At a time when the industry is bemoaning the lack of next-generation administrative talent it would be extraordinary if the Hawks had not approached Dilena – who carries a reputation of having a hands-off approach to his senior coach and empowering his staff.

The company line is that Dilena – Ross Lyon’s teammate for two years at Fitzroy – is relishing his return to football and happy in his current role as St Kilda’s COO. But should Lethlean move, Moorabbin has the ideal replacement waiting in the wings.

Haha what a hypocrit she is. On FC she said because both Lyon and Lethers denied it she'll have to take them at their word, and here she is saying it doesn't matter hahaha

 

[Yawkey way]

Haha what a hypocrit she is. On FC she said because both Lyon and Lethers denied it she'll have to take them at their word, and here she is saying it doesn't matter hahaha

That’s good old Caro, seriously tell me she had no role in stewart dew getting sacked.

 

[George]

That’s good old Caro, seriously tell me she had no role in stewart dew getting sacked.

Seems like it's obvious she's helping out Lyon and there's actually some friction there. Even still...hypocrit!

 

[Mowman]

Haha what a hypocrit she is. On FC she said because both Lyon and Lethers denied it she'll have to take them at their word, and here she is saying it doesn't matter hahaha

Maybe she done some more digging

I can’t stand her but she gets plenty right

Really hope she is right this time

 

[George]

Maybe she done some more digging

I can’t stand her but she gets plenty right

Really hope she is right this time

Yep so do I

 

[gringo2011]

I’m not a fan and can scarcely believe he still has a job. He is definitely much better suited to his current role but if he’s peering into the areas he made a mess of then yes I’ve definitely got a problem with that. Anyway I know who my money is on to win that battle so if there‘s tension it’s welcome Carl to your new role.

I get the feeling he's protective of his Bitch-Stewie list and peeking behind the curtain to make sure that Lyon isn't messing with his baby. I think he was hoping that Lyon would come in and give him a pat on the head for his fine work.

 

[gringo2011]

That’s good old Caro, seriously tell me she had no role in stewart dew getting sacked.

I think she was on the money. If they weren't sacking Dew, her saying it doesn't mean they had to do it. If anything her talking about it should have made them more resolved to keep him. They will have been sounding out Hardwick for ages.