A few observations

[GOALden Hawk]

I think everyone has covered most of the issues here, so I just thought I'd say how TRULY sorry I feel for all St.Kilda supporters (especially the loyal ones here at Bigfooty) and for the players such as Loewe, Harvey and Burke.

In hindsight there were some signs that Blight wasn't quite all there when it came to putting his heart and soul into it - the 2 that spring to mind was DCFC doing that "report" stating in jest that Blight had actually stopped putting the blame on everyone else and accepted that he wasn't coaching well.

The other thing that surprised me was last week against Adelaide, where he turned his back on the game to look at the match-ups. I know it doesn't seem like much but he must have spent a minute not watching the game, which seems very strange when you have assistant coaches who usually look after the board.

Anyway, IMHO I don't see what the Saints have gained out of sacking him at this stage of the season - and for me the real disappointment is the appointment of Grant Thomas as senior coach. As Wayne Carey said last night, this guy hasn't coached in a decade and isn't even on the coaching panel. Seems a bizarre decision to me.

 

[Macca19]

Re: Re: Re: A few observations

Originally posted by Westy Boy


That was a brilliant, well thought out post from a passionate supporter, who's club is being attacked from all quarters for a situation that he has no control over. But what do you go to do? Viciously attack, and kick him and his club while they are down. Four times and counting tonight. Well done.

Do you know what the worst thing is?

You know jack shlt. I know jack shlt too, but the difference is that at least I wont go judging supporters and clubs with circumstances I know nothing about. Although you may think you know it all in respect to today's events, but you nothing about what led to them, Macca. I don't either, but like most people (including Saints supporters) on these boards today and yesterday, I don't pretend to. http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/news/2001/07/20/FFXIZ03FBPC.html

Have a read of this article.... might give you a bit of perspective.

Great Post!!!!!!!! Very great post!!!!!

Maybe you should read what i wrote again. Some things Sainter said were completly FALSE. Thats what i was saying...you cant blame and have a go at Malcolm for something that he DID NOT DO!!!!
Sainter reckons he had a go at St Kildas winning culture. Blight DID NOT. He was questioned and he commented on the PARTY culture at the club.
Sainter reckons Blight said "My heart is still in Adelaide", now there is NO WAY any coach in the world while coaching another club would say "my heart is still at my old club". Could you imagine the uproar if Sheedy came out and said "My heart is still at Richmond"...he would be sacked on the spot. Thing is no coach in their right mind would say that out in public, even if they were thinking it.
All Blight said was "i probably should of thought about the decision more than i actually did"...is that saying "My heart is in Adelaide"....NO its not.
Im not bagging anyone here. I feel sorry for Sainter and the rest of the saints supporters. I feel sorry that they actually support that club. But you cant go around and abuse, bag and throw crap at Blight about things he did not even say.

Your right Westy tho, i do know jack shiit about what happened. And you know what as well...the saints supporters know about as much as everyone else. If me or you arent in a place to comment, then neither are they. You think just because they are saints supporters they suddenly know everything about whats happened? Thats a load of crap as well.

Have you heard the interview that caused 75% of this mess?? Not Read what was said, but have you actually HEARD the interview? If you have heard it, you can see where Sainter is complety off track in his remarks. If you havent heard it then you cannot comment quite simply. I heard it yesterday afternoon, and not one thing Sainter blamed on blighty was said in that interview. In fact Blighty was very happy at St Kilda, he hadnt lost interest...if he had of lost interest...knowing Blighty he would of quit a week or two ago.

I agree Westy with just about everything you wrote in that post you know but one thing....People can not go around abusing Blight when they cant even get the facts that people DO know correct.
First of all 80% of posts yesterday about this were bagging Blight because he quit. They all assumed "well St Kilda are second last, he must of quit". Then when it comes out he is sacked, they get the facts wrong about what Blighty has said in the past.

Blight did NOT say "My heart is still in Adelaide" despite what Sainter thinks.

Blight did NOT "bag the clubs losing culture" despite what Sainter thinks.

Blights heart WAS in the job.
If people like Sainter are gonna write out long speeches from the heart which involves bagging Blight, then they could at least get their facts right before doing it.

You have a bit of a go at me for saying what i think and assuming things as you put it. Yet Sainter has assumed a large number of things - which are mostly false as well...why dont you have a go at him Westy?? Nah you wouldnt do that would you

 

[Port01]

I see Grant Thomas has brought Tim Elliot back into the side.

I rest my case.

 

[GOALden Hawk]

He seems pretty confident he'll have the job next year too, very little talk down Moorabbin way of looking for a replacement.

I can see a Roger Merrett situation developing where Thomas thinks he has the job next season, St. Kilda decide to apppoint Chris Connolly or the like instead and Grant Thomas cracks the sads.

Normally when a new coach is appointed the team fires up, but here I think it will have the opposite effect.

 

[Shinboners]

I think the following comments by Jamie Tate in the Hun summed it up perfectly:

"Sheldon, Alves, Waston, Blight, all gone since 1993. Don't tell me none of these blokes could coach"

and

"Only two men - Allan Jeans and Stan Alves - have coached the club for more than 100 games. Both took the club to the Grand Final"


Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and the media is full of "well, here are the signs that Blight's heart wasn't really in the job", but the key question that the board must answer to their fans is, "Did Butterss and the board go to the same detailed analysis of the coaching prospects as Melbourne, Geelong, Hawthorn, and Richmond did with Daniher, Thompson, Schwab, and Frawley?". If they did, then the board should get the full backing of the fans as it could be argued that they did all that could have been reasonable in searching for a new coach. But if they saw Blight as a saviour, but made no analysis of whether he was the right man to develop what is essentially a young list, then they should consider resigning. A mass resignation of the board would lead to more turmoil within St.Kilda, but then again, if they're not doing as professional a job as they should (and thus, won't have the confidence of the fans, players, and sponsors), what have St.Kilda really have to lose?

The only way that Butterss and the board can regain the confidence of the fans, players, and sponsors is to show that they did all they could have reasonably done to show that Blight was the right man for the job, and also give reasons why the decision did not work out and explain the reasoning on why it was better to sack Blight now rather than to wait until the end of the year. I think most people can accept that you can do everything right, but the end result isn't what you wish it to be. But once you hide the reasons, then there will always be a question mark over you.

 

[StrengthThroughLoyalty]

Re: Re: Re: Re: A few observations

Originally posted by Macca19

Blight did NOT say "My heart is still in Adelaide" despite what Sainter thinks.

Blight did NOT "bag the clubs losing culture" despite what Sainter thinks.

Blights heart WAS in the job.
If people like Sainter are gonna write out long speeches from the heart which involves bagging Blight, then they could at least get their facts right before doing it.

macca, blight stated in a different interview that a little bit of his heart remained in adelaide and that he often watches crows games.

you don't know the facts yet you use your version of them in your argument against the club and sainter. you don't know how malcolm blight feels or felt yet you lambast sainter for giving his opinion. your purile and vitriolic attack on sainter and the st kilda football club show you up as being a loud ignorant fool.

 

[sainter]

Originally posted by Shinboners
After my initial reaction (on another thread) where I said that the only people I had sympathy for were the young St.Kilda players and the Saints fans, I have to say that after listening to the reports on radio, I'm starting to feel a lot of sympathy towards Blight. Something just doesn't add up....it seems that Blight was shocked and angry that he was sacked and it also appears that the players, especially Harvey, were stunned. So far, most of what has been said has come from St.Kilda...I haven't heard anything from the Blight camp. And from what I've heard, and keeping in mind that each side would try to put a positive spin on things, the St.Kilda board aren't coming out of this smelling of roses.

Everyone talks about the culture around St.Kilda, and someone made an interesting point earlier in the day. When Carlton recruited Barassi from Melbourne, the administration backed Barassi to the hilt. No matter how many toes Barassi trod on, no matter how many egoes he popped, no matter how many home truths he told to club stalwarts, the Carlton administration always fell behind Barassi. They knew that Barassi was a winner and knew how to win, and to change the then Carlton culture, they had to follow what plans Barassi wanted to implement. From what I can piece together, it seems that Blight tried to do the same thing, but eventually, the people he may have offended ran to the administration who then buckled (Grant Thomas in the coaches box anyone?).

If the board were trying to show the outside world that they wanted to have a certain cultural attitude, and that by putting Blight up as proof of a new toughness, then I think they've miscalculated. The only thing that it has proved is that they came up with a plan and have abandoned it. If they wanted to prove a point, then it would have been better to sack a player.....take your pick for a sacrificial lamb...Jones, Peckett, Everitt. And what happens to the Saints credibility when they go looking for a coach? I'd imagine that they'd interview Mark Harvey....he comes from a club culture that is not only disciplined, but also looks at long term plans, sticks to them, and only make cosmetic changes to their strategies as the situation demands....they don't go and get rid of one of their plan's key elements. I reckon a few aspiring coaches will wait a further year or two for another job to come up rather than take on the Saints poisoned chalice.

Malcolm Blight, for all his eccentricities, is one of the game's true legends. Two premierships as a North player, two more as Adelaide coach, three Grand Finals with Geelong, a Brownlow Medal, a Magarey Medal, and a Coleman Medal. I can't belive that someone so successful could screw things up so badly at St.Kilda that he deserves the sack after less than a year (especially with all the injuries on the Saints list). I reckon he tried to change the culture at St.Kilda just as Barassi had with Carlton over 30 years ago. The only thing is that while Barassi had the full support of the Carlton board then, Blight never had it with the Saints board now.

I think that's a pretty good point.

There's no doubt that when Malcolm was hired, one of the things he was promised was that he would have a free reign to run the football team in any way that he desired. Much like the example of Ron Barassi that you used.

However as time went on, the St Kilda board weren't happy with the way things were going. And this goes far beyond our on-field performances. We have been decimated by injuries and while we still should have won more games, I don't think that is the issue.

From taking very few training sessions in the beginning, not making himself accessible to players, not turning up to club functions and travelling interstate seperately and spending very little time with the players, I think you can see that all was not well.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think the board are blameless. Like Barassi, I'm sure he had the permission to do whatever he wanted. They were the ones who chased him so vigorously and now they have seemingly let him down. And I'm not kidding myself, the breakdown in communication between Blight and the board would have been the crucial factor in his dismissal.

We have a history of sacking coaches. However, sacking Malcolm Blight is totally different. I would go as far as saying this was a defining moment in our history. On one hand, the club let go one of the best coaches in VFL/AFL history. On the other hand, the board showed that they wouldn't tolerate some of the problems that had happened over the course of the year.

Who knows how it will turn out now?

 

[Grendel]

The whole 'a little bit of heart left in Adelaide' thing is, imho being used just a tad to much as a nice media grab or sound bite.

What is wrong with admitting to feeling affection to a place where you have brought the greatest success?

Parkin on his return to Hawthorn this year, the first thing he said was how great it was to be returning to his real home. Saying that, im sure though he would have and still does have a love for the time that he was with the Blues. Does that make him any less than 100% committed to the Hawks? I wouldnt think so.

All coaches often get asked when coming up against the clubs they had played for "Hows it feel returning against <fill in footy side name> after playing there for so long"? The stock answer is "just another team". Why bother? Most people would have some affection for the places they played/coached for. Whats wrong with expressing that view.

Alves, earlier this year on radio when discussing a game the Saints were about to play, stated that he didnt really mind who won, but that if the Saints got up he would be happy for the guys he coached. If thats not a two edged bet ive never heard one.

There isnt anything wrong with having affection or love from where you have been. Just so long as you also embrace and come to love where (and it can and should take time) you are currently.

 

[ptw]

Originally posted by sainter


I think that's a pretty good point.

There's no doubt that when Malcolm was hired, one of the things he was promised was that he would have a free reign to run the football team in any way that he desired. Much like the example of Ron Barassi that you used.

However as time went on, the St Kilda board weren't happy with the way things were going. And this goes far beyond our on-field performances. We have been decimated by injuries and while we still should have won more games, I don't think that is the issue.

From taking very few training sessions in the beginning, not making himself accessible to players, not turning up to club functions and travelling interstate seperately and spending very little time with the players, I think you can see that all was not well.

Don't get me wrong, I don't think the board are blameless. Like Barassi, I'm sure he had the permission to do whatever he wanted. They were the ones who chased him so vigorously and now they have seemingly let him down. And I'm not kidding myself, the breakdown in communication between Blight and the board would have been the crucial factor in his dismissal.

We have a history of sacking coaches. However, sacking Malcolm Blight is totally different. I would go as far as saying this was a defining moment in our history. On one hand, the club let go one of the best coaches in VFL/AFL history. On the other hand, the board showed that they wouldn't tolerate some of the problems that had happened over the course of the year.

Who knows how it will turn out now?

yeah but the board also ahowed a lack of commitment to follow through. It just does not make sense to say to Blight "you have free reign" and then sack him because he is not doing things the way they want. We make judgements about how often he should take training, how often he should be available and what flights he should take, but that in a way is exactly the point. He will do these things how he sees fit and for the board to sack him, in part at least, because they disagree with his judgement, means they were not really committed in the first place.

ptw

 

[sainter]

Westy,

I don't think many people could put it better than that. I certainly can't.

Thanks STL. Looking forward to tomorrow night? I can't wait

Macca,

I wasn’t going to bother replying to your message. I mean let’s face it, you know more about Fremantle and Adelaide than their own supporters.

The way you can tell me exactly what I’m thinking truly is the sign of a great man.

You just really know it all.

Of course as the only person to nominate himself as one of the smartest authorities on football at bigfooty, I should have expected it.

But in answer to your queries, I wasn't entirely correct. The article I was referring to stated that he has left a piece of his heart in Adelaide . He watches as many Adelaide games on TV as he can and in hindsight may not have left. I wouldn't say I was just plain wrong. It was a bit on the emotional side but I had just gotten home from uni and was a bit shocked. Next time I will include footnotes and a reference list for you.

And in reference to the club culture, you can't just isolate one particular aspect. A clubs culture refers to any aspect of the club. From the amounts of premierships won, to the decor of the club rooms, to the supporters. Besides, it is such a trivial little point anyway. I find it quite funny that you would come out so aggressive in your post.

I think Malcolm Blight is one of the greatest coaches in Australian football history. But that does not change my view. As time wore on, I do think his heart just wasn't in it as much as it needs to be. I found Mick Malthouses opinion quite interesting on The Footy Show last night. Like the players, there is usually some sort of code between the coaches and I was fully expecting him to rip into his former club. Instead, Mick said he wasn't surrpised at all after looking at Blights body language in recent times. I don't expect you to agree with me. But perhaps the view of someone like Mick Malthouse would carry more weight in your opinion.

I'll ignore some of your cheap shots. You aren't even worth the effort.

I'm off to work. Bye Macca

 

[Macca19]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: A few observations

Originally posted by StrengthThroughLoyalty


macca, blight stated in a different interview that a little bit of his heart remained in adelaide and that he often watches crows games.

you don't know the facts yet you use your version of them in your argument against the club and sainter. you don't know how malcolm blight feels or felt yet you lambast sainter for giving his opinion. your purile and vitriolic attack on sainter and the st kilda football club show you up as being a loud ignorant fool.

I apologise (at least some of us around here are man to do so)...i THOUGHT Sainter was talking about the 5AA interview and thats what seems to of caused most of this havoc (if you check my first post i did say i wasnt totally sure which interview but i thought it was the 5AA one).
YOU or sainter dont know how Blight feels either yet just because your a saint supporter you feel the need to tell everyone exactly how he felt and what he was thinking.

go figure

purile and vitriloic attack??? Talk about a Drama Queen. The logies arent for another few months yet STL. My post wasnt all that abusive...in fact the only abusive thing i said was "do you have a brain?, if so use it next time". Maybe you should learn how to be unbias.

Also "a little bit of my heat is still in adelaide" is a LOT different to "my heart is still in adelaide". I used to barrack for collingwood before port came in and 'a little bit of my heart' is still there as well.

 

[Macca19]

Originally posted by sainter
Westy,

I don't think many people could put it better than that. I certainly can't.

Thanks STL. Looking forward to tomorrow night? I can't wait

Macca,

I wasn’t going to bother replying to your message. I mean let’s face it, you know more about Fremantle and Adelaide than their own supporters.

The way you can tell me exactly what I’m thinking truly is the sign of a great man.

You just really know it all.

Of course as the only person to nominate himself as one of the smartest authorities on football at bigfooty, I should have expected it.

But in answer to your queries, I wasn't entirely correct. The article I was referring to stated that he has left a piece of his heart in Adelaide . He watches as many Adelaide games on TV as he can and in hindsight may not have left. I wouldn't say I was just plain wrong. It was a bit on the emotional side but I had just gotten home from uni and was a bit shocked. Next time I will include footnotes and a reference list for you.

And in reference to the club culture, you can't just isolate one particular aspect. A clubs culture refers to any aspect of the club. From the amounts of premierships won, to the decor of the club rooms, to the supporters. Besides, it is such a trivial little point anyway. I find it quite funny that you would come out so aggressive in your post.

I think Malcolm Blight is one of the greatest coaches in Australian football history. But that does not change my view. As time wore on, I do think his heart just wasn't in it as much as it needs to be. I found Mick Malthouses opinion quite interesting on The Footy Show last night. Like the players, there is usually some sort of code between the coaches and I was fully expecting him to rip into his former club. Instead, Mick said he wasn't surrpised at all after looking at Blights body language in recent times. I don't expect you to agree with me. But perhaps the view of someone like Mick Malthouse would carry more weight in your opinion.

I'll ignore some of your cheap shots. You aren't even worth the effort.

I'm off to work. Bye Macca

To start my reply i will just say this:
Your mother did not die yesterday (for all i know), nor your dad or your best friend in the world. You coach got sacked. Does that automatically mean i have to be apologetic and thoughtful towards you as if your mother, father or best friend had died?? Get off the grass. The way you and other saints fans are talking it is like your mothers all just passed away.

Talk about a cheap shot merchant - you should look at yourself as well.
Show me where i told you how you were thinking? Whats that?...you cant? thats right, i stated my opinion. My opinion on what i read of your post was you were wrong about 2 or 3 issues.

Secondly....my intention was not to have a cheap shot. Yes looking back i did write a cheap shot. It was late and i had a hard day as well and i dont even know why i replied in the first place.

thirdly - you are wrong about the culture thing in a way. YES - you are correct that a football clubs culture brings in every aspect possible from the premierships, the wooden spoons, the supporters, the grass on the oval, the lockers etc. BUT Malcolms comment - and i refer to the 500% comment which seems to have caused a lot of havoc thru st kilda - he was asked about the clubs culture IN THE ASPECT of the drinking, the partying, the pub brawls etc. He was asked if it was really as bad as what it is thought to be from an outsiders view (Cornes asked the question) Malcolm said it was 500% worse than he used to think when not involved in St Kilda. Im not sure if you heard that interview or not. I find that to be a fair comment. You may not, i do. Of course as you said - my opinion means nothing.

There was no reason to be such a smartarse - you werent entirely correct (you stated that yourself). Is it a crime to watch as many adelaide games on television as you can? I didnt think so. I think it is understandable that he would still have 'a soft spot' for adelaide...he did coach them to their and his own first premierships.

I find it quite funny that you would come out so aggressive in your post.

sorry, i sincerly apologise. I do not even know why i was so aggresive either. A hard day and tiredness can make people a bit short tempered at times

In hindsight (theres that word again) i shouldnt of written the post at all. Your post was a great post by the way - the original one. I just disagreed with a point or three - and went off my rocker for unexplainable reasons.

Anyway - hope you except the apology and we can both get on with our lives.

 

[StrengthThroughLoyalty]

drama queen at the logies

Originally posted by Macca19


purile and vitriloic attack??? Talk about a Drama Queen. The logies arent for another few months yet STL. My post wasnt all that abusive...in fact the only abusive thing i said was "do you have a brain?, if so use it next time". Maybe you should learn how to be unbias.

(clap clap clap wild applause at the logies)

thank you thank you thank you

this has come as a complete and pleasant surprise.

i'd like to thank the st kilda football club for turning me from a rational well balanced man into the raving drama queen you see before you tonight. to think if i had of barracked for a stable club my obvious talents for drama would never have been realised.

i'd also like to thank my mum and dad
and of course gary ablett.

 

[Macca19]

Re: drama queen at the logies

Originally posted by StrengthThroughLoyalty


(clap clap clap wild applause at the logies)

thank you thank you thank you

this has come as a complete and pleasant surprise.

i'd like to thank the st kilda football club for turning me from a rational well balanced man into the raving drama queen you see before you tonight. to think if i had of barracked for a stable club my obvious talents for drama would never have been realised.

i'd also like to thank my mum and dad
and of course gary ablett.

Congratulations idiot. Looking back at the posts i made last night, im more and more confused at why you saw it as such a bad 'attack'.

Was i downright abusive? No.
Did i get personal? I said "do you have a brain...maybe you should use it"...other than that?? No.

I honestly do not see what your problem or sainters problem was/is. Is it the fact i didnt write any soppy stuff like "im so sorry for you guys...it must be sooo hard for you to be put thru that" like other people wrote?

So please...tell me STL - what was your problem with what i wrote...read it again, and tell me..please, cos i would really like to know.

 

[Macca19]

Originally posted by sainter
These points are in no particular order, but probably do indicate my thoughts. More than likely, most saints supporters will disagree with me.

1) St Kilda have NO DEBT. The club have announced earlier in the year that we will post a significant trading loss for 2001. That does NOT mean the club are in immediate danger. Yes, why not become the Southport Saints. Let's move to a state where its only team have the lowest membership in the league.

This is a good point. I found out yesterday talking to my best friends dad that he works for a man called Lindsay Fox. Lindsay has pumped millions upon millions of dollars into St Kilda - and it was basically his money that got Blight to the Saints in the first place. As long as Fox keeps supporting the saints and pumping them with money - St Kildas money problems are basically non existant

 

[Michele]

Funny how the only thing Butterss (what a name) excuse for sacking Malcolm Blight is "not embracing St. Kilda".

St Kilda would not be playing in the finals, so 3AW asked Blight if he would like to comment on some of the games. He told Price the he couln't because he would be "looking out for some kids".

Now, dosen't that sound like he really didn't want to coach and wasn't ready to "embrace St Kilda"

Malcolm - you are a champion - far too good for a 'loser administration.

M. Blight - 2 premiership player
- Coleman medallist
- Margery medallist
- Brownlow medallist
- 3x Geelong GF
- 2x Adelaide Premiership coach

R. Butterss - 0

Michele

NMFC 1869

 

[StrengthThroughLoyalty]

Re: Re: drama queen at the logies

Originally posted by Macca19


Congratulations idiot. Looking back at the posts i made last night, im more and more confused at why you saw it as such a bad 'attack'.

Was i downright abusive? No.
Did i get personal? I said "do you have a brain...maybe you should use it"...other than that?? No.

I honestly do not see what your problem or sainters problem was/is. Is it the fact i didnt write any soppy stuff like "im so sorry for you guys...it must be sooo hard for you to be put thru that" like other people wrote?

So please...tell me STL - what was your problem with what i wrote...read it again, and tell me..please, cos i would really like to know.

macca i have no problem with you or any of your posts. however in this instance i just thought that your posts concerning the saints and sainters opinions were aggressive and over the top, so i told you, nothing personal.

if that beer is still on offer in the future i'd be happy to drink one with you. one pint of guiness please.

 

[Macca19]

Re: Re: Re: drama queen at the logies

Originally posted by StrengthThroughLoyalty


macca i have no problem with you or any of your posts. however in this instance i just thought that your posts concerning the saints and sainters opinions were aggressive and over the top, so i told you, nothing personal.

if that beer is still on offer in the future i'd be happy to drink one with you. one pint of guiness please.

2 pints of guiness coming up!

 

[Homer]

I know I am an outsider to this debate but.
My best friend is a Saints supporter, I have been to many games on the wing at Morrabin.
The things that seem to be odd to me are.
1. That Blight wasn't really given free reign to do what he wanted, as quuoted when he 1st was hired.His only voice at Board level has been through Grant Thomas.He felt for whatever reasons that Grant Thomas shouldn't be telling him what to do in the box, and said so.Thomas was sacked by North and Alves for similar problems in the box.Why ?There seems to be a problem there.
2. I have a problem with the relationship between the President, new coach and CEO, all best old time mates.It would be hard to be unbiased.Why was it only these 3, that had the meeting with the Blights on Monday night.Who from that meeting told Caroline Wilson the context of that meeting.
3. At all clubs , coaches delegate things. I know at Brisbane. Matthews and co aren't seen presason a lot.This doesn't mean they are not involved, it means others are doing the jobs delgated to them.eg The fitness team.This beat up about not attending a few functions, is just that a beat up.Matthews rarely goes to reserves matches, his assistants do that.I think you would be surprised at all the other clubs, if Blight wasn't unusual in his delegation.Mark Harvey said the exact same on Footy Focus.
4. Stan Alves had a major conflict with Grant Thomas, as did Denis Pagan.Both saying so publicly at the times of his dismissals .Under no circumstances should St Kilda have re hired this person in any capacityat the club.North have never rehired him, and never will.
5.Grant Thomas last night stated he wants to be the senior coach next year at St Kilda. Something is WAY wrong with the process where he became the interim coach.He was not objective.Who knows what was said to the boad about what was actually happening in the football department, when the only voice at board level was Thomas.Whoever the coach was should have had total control of what happened in the department, and had a voice at boad level.Thats where the St Kilda club has made monumental errors in judgement.You can't tell me that Malthouse or Sheedy don't have total control.

I would hate to think that the club would continue with him as the coach next year.
Also , some hard decisions need to be made about the player group.I think Blight stood on a few toes in his feeling of retirement for a few of the old injured players.I know its hard to make that decision as players, but.....If they remain, and take up valuable salary cap money, and underperform or are still injured, whilst another player could be listed in their place.Hard that one.

Also a niggling thought.Why was Rod Butteriss viewing the Southport Sharks facility the other week. Why aren't they telling the supporters the whole truth on ALL issues.A bit of honesty would restore some faith in the admin I think. I feel for the supporters. Even Molly Meldrum seems cross. Thats a 1st.